Djokovic makes candid future admission after ‘too | Sports News

Novak Djokovic, former world No. 1, not too long ago confessed the chance that his days competing within the Madrid Open is likely to be over, following a gorgeous defeat by the hands of Matteo Arnaldi. Djokovic, now ranked fifth globally, has seen an unfamiliar sample of early match exits, a stark distinction to his previous dominance marked by in depth profitable streaks.

After a 6-3, 6-4 loss, Djokovic acknowledged an uncomfortable trend of “way too many” early departures in latest occasions, confessing he is navigating by means of unknown waters. The 37-year-old tennis star is attempting to return to phrases with the altering dynamics of his profession. Upon concluding his match, Djokovic stopped to acknowledge the cheers at Manolo Santana Stadium earlier than admitting it may need been his last-ever match within the match.

“It could be. It could be. I’m not sure if I will come back. So, I don’t know, I don’t know what to say,” Djokovic mentioned when requested in regards to the chance.

“I mean, I’ll come back, maybe not as a player, of course. I hope it’s not, but it could be.”

Despite the rocky begin to the season and presently going through a second three-match shedding streak in 2025, Djokovic skilled some brilliant moments, together with securing a spot within the Australian Open semifinal and buying the runner-up title in Miami.

Djokovic is grappling with the new regular of early exits from tournaments, a stark distinction to his previous 20 years of dominance. He continued, “You can imagine, I mean, [in the last] 20 years, I didn’t experience what I’m experiencing in the last 12 months. So, you know, early exits and, you know, way too many.

“But it’s half of the game, and you must settle for the circumstances and attempt to make the best out of the circumstances in your favour for no matter is coming up.

“Look, I cannot sit here and complain about my career or anything, I’m not doing that. But it’s a different feeling that I just have to embrace, accept, and deal with in a special way.”

As Djokovic approaches his thirty eighth birthday subsequent month, his sights are set on the French Open, the place he goals for a milestone twenty fifth Grand Slam title. “I’m always trying to be optimistic, and I know what I’m capable of. But again, things are different, obviously, with my strokes, with my body, with my movement, it’s the reality that I have to accept,” he mentioned.

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“I’ll try to make the most out of these new circumstances that I have, particularly on Grand Slams, where it counts the most for me, at least where I would like to do my best. So let’s see what happens.”

“Pressure is part of the sport and part of what we do on this highest level, so it’s never going to go away, you know, it’s just different kind of pressure.

“But each time I step on the court docket I really feel the nerves, I really feel stress, I really feel all the pieces that I suppose all the opposite gamers really feel, and pleasure as effectively. So, [I] nonetheless prefer to compete, it grew to become a bit more difficult for me, to be trustworthy.”