Novak Djokovic Faces Uncertainty Ahead of the US Open
Djokovic was defeated by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals, expressing that he felt physically drained during the latter part of recent Grand Slams.
This has prompted numerous inquiries about his future, with some, including Nick Kyrgios hinting at a possible retirement for Djokovic in the near future.
The upcoming Grand Slam is the US Open, where Djokovic secured his 24th major title.
Steve Flink Discusses Djokovic’s Outlook for the US Open
Steve Flink, a renowned sports journalist and International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, shared insights regarding Djokovic on Gill Gross’s YouTube channel. He highlighted recent comments from Andy Roddick and speculated that an early exit in New York could lead to retirement considerations.
Flink criticized ongoing discussions about Djokovic passing Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam singles titles, noting that the conversation lacks context about Court’s achievements.
| Player | Grand Slam Titles in the Open Era |
| Novak Djokovic | 24 |
| Serena Williams | 23 |
| Rafael Nadal & Steffi Graf | 22 |
| Roger Federer | 20 |
| Chris Evert & Martina Navratilova | 18 |
While Court also has 24 major wins, 13 were before the Open Era, which some argue were less competitive. Flink commented, “It will be interesting to see Djokovic’s performance at the US Open. Andy Roddick mentioned that reaching the round of 16 is commendable, and Djokovic must manage his expectations.”
Recap of Djokovic’s Performance at Last Year’s US Open
Flink warned that Djokovic could consider retirement if he replicates last year’s surprising exit. Djokovic was eliminated by Alexei Popyrin in a shocking third-round loss.
Before the US Open last year, he had just secured Olympic gold in Paris, which Djokovic later suggested may have affected his performance at Flushing Meadows.
“I arrived feeling mentally and physically drained,” he explained. “While I didn’t have any physical issues, I just felt out of gas throughout the tournament.”
With uncertainty about his participation in tournaments before this year’s US Open, including his withdrawal from the Canadian Open, anticipation continues to build around Djokovic’s upcoming performance.
