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Is Novak Djokovic the Greatest Tennis Player of contemporary Era?
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Novak Djokovic given walkover win and handed place in Wimbledon semi-finals
Novak Djokovic has received a bye into the semi-finals of Wimbledon after Alex de Minaur pulled out of Wednesday's quarter-final on Centre Court with a hip injury
Novak Djokovic is through to the semi-finals of Wimbledon without hitting a ball after Alex de Minaur pulled out of Wednesday's match.
The Serbian was due to play the Australian on Centre Court but his opponent, in an impromptu press conference, said that he is suffering with a hip injury and is unable to play. De Minaur had seen off Frenchman Arthur Fils in four sets to set up his match with Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic given walkover win and handed place in Wimbledon semi-finals
Novak Djokovic has received a bye into the semi-finals of Wimbledon after Alex de Minaur pulled out of Wednesday's quarter-final on Centre Court with a hip injury
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Novak Djokovic outclassed Italian underdog Lorenzo Musetti to reach the Wimbledon final and set up a showdown with reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in a repeat of last year's final.
In an impressive display, Djokovic stayed on course for a record-equalling eighth men's singles title at Wimbledon with a comprehensive 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 victory on Centre Court.
BBC
In an impressive display, Djokovic stayed on course for a record-equalling eighth men's singles title at Wimbledon with a comprehensive 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 victory on Centre Court.
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Djokovic beats Nadal to keep Olympic dream going
Novak Djokovic outclassed his long-time rival Rafael Nadal to win their Olympic second-round match and continue his bid to land an elusive gold medal.
Serbia's Djokovic, 37, looked on a different level to Nadal for most of a one-sided contest which he won 6-1 6-4 on the Roland Garros clay.
Djokovic led 4-0 in the second set to quell the partisan support for the Spaniard, before 38-year-old Nadal fought back to wipe out the double break.
But Djokovic, like we have seen him do so many times, stepped on the gas again to break for 5-4 and serve out victory.
BBC
Novak Djokovic outclassed his long-time rival Rafael Nadal to win their Olympic second-round match and continue his bid to land an elusive gold medal.
Serbia's Djokovic, 37, looked on a different level to Nadal for most of a one-sided contest which he won 6-1 6-4 on the Roland Garros clay.
Djokovic led 4-0 in the second set to quell the partisan support for the Spaniard, before 38-year-old Nadal fought back to wipe out the double break.
But Djokovic, like we have seen him do so many times, stepped on the gas again to break for 5-4 and serve out victory.
BBC
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Novak Djokovic withdraws from ATP Montreal event
World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s ATP Canadian Open tournament in Montreal, Tennis Canada said on Monday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia has reached the third round of the Paris Olympics with a victory over Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic, 37, has won 98 career ATP titles but will not compete in the hardcourt tune-up event for the US Open, which begins on August 26.
“While we’re disappointed that Novak will be unable to take part in this year’s tournament, we understand his decision and wish him the best at the Olympics and the remainder of his season,” tournament director Valerie Tetreault said.
Djokovic’s withdrawal will give Roman Safiullin, a 26-year-old Russian ranked 66th in the world, a spot in the main draw.
The schedule at Montreal was changed from the usual Monday-Sunday format due to the Olympics, with main draw action starting Tuesday, August 6 and the finish on Monday, August 12.
World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s ATP Canadian Open tournament in Montreal, Tennis Canada said on Monday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia has reached the third round of the Paris Olympics with a victory over Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic, 37, has won 98 career ATP titles but will not compete in the hardcourt tune-up event for the US Open, which begins on August 26.
“While we’re disappointed that Novak will be unable to take part in this year’s tournament, we understand his decision and wish him the best at the Olympics and the remainder of his season,” tournament director Valerie Tetreault said.
Djokovic’s withdrawal will give Roman Safiullin, a 26-year-old Russian ranked 66th in the world, a spot in the main draw.
The schedule at Montreal was changed from the usual Monday-Sunday format due to the Olympics, with main draw action starting Tuesday, August 6 and the finish on Monday, August 12.
Novak Djokovic withdraws from ATP Montreal event
MONTREAL: World number two Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s ATP Canadian Open tournament in Montreal,...
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Djokovic beats Alcaraz to win long-awaited Olympic gold
Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz in thrilling fashion to secure a long-awaited Olympic title and complete the career 'Golden Slam'.
Djokovic, who has won a men's record 24 majors and swept up every title there is in tennis, finally clinched Olympic gold at his fifth Games.
The Serb put in his best performance of the year to beat French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in front of a packed crowd in Paris.
He is just the fifth player to win the 'Golden Slam' in singles - all four majors and the Olympic title - after Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
Djokovic, 37, left this same court at Roland Garros two months ago needing knee surgery, which put his Olympic dream at risk, and his reaction after Sunday's win showed what it meant.
He turned towards his box, arms outstretched in disbelief, before throwing his racquet to the floor.
After hugging Spain's Alcaraz, Djokovic immediately burst into tears and fell to his knees on the middle of the court.
He then unfurled a Serbian flag and clambered into the stands to celebrate with his family and support team.
Alcaraz, 21, was also in tears after the match, but will leave with a silver medal on his Olympic debut.
Italy's Lorenzo Musetti is the singles bronze medallist, having beaten Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on Friday.
This moment will mean as much to Djokovic, if not more, than all the Grand Slams, Masters 1,000 titles and ATP tournaments he has won.
His family watched on from the stands, bearing Serbian flags, with daughter Tara carrying a sign that said "Dad is the best".
Djokovic has spoken about seeing the Olympics as the pinnacle of sport, and the emotions of representing his country have affected him in his past four Games.
He won singles bronze in Beijing in 2008, finished fourth at London 2012, suffered an emotional early loss in Rio in 2016 and lost the bronze-medal match in Tokyo three years ago.
However, Djokovic did not drop a set in Paris and was focused from the outset, determined to get his hands on the one prize that had eluded him for so long.
The final match itself was a test of his determination - he was on the back foot in the first set but did not give in, saving all eight break points he faced and taking advantage as Alcaraz faltered in both tie-breaks.
It was played in a superb spirit, with both players often left laughing at the quality of the other's shot-making.
The crowd was equally split between Spanish fans, decked in flags, and Serbia supporters carrying signs with "Nole" - Djokovic's nickname - written on.
An electric atmosphere added to the tension - Alcaraz looked the more nervous and had to save a break point in his opening game, but he pushed Djokovic to the limit with his mix of touch and power.
However, Djokovic simply would not give in. He played some of his best tennis when down break point and, after taking the first set, was full of confidence.
There was the occasional gesture towards his support box - who responded by telling him to keep his head up and stay positive - but on the whole, Djokovic was as dialled in as he has been all year.
It has been a difficult season for Djokovic. He lost in the Australian Open semi-finals to Italy's Jannik Sinner, had an indifferent hard court swing, needed knee surgery after injuring himself at Roland Garros and was completely outplayed in his only final of the season this far at Wimbledon.
However, that will only make this victory that much sweeter for a man who shows no sign of stopping.
Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic tennis gold and seal 'Golden Slam'
Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz in thrilling fashion to clinch a long-awaited Olympic title and complete the career 'Golden Slam'.
www.bbc.com
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Djokovic beats Alcaraz to win long-awaited Olympic gold
Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz in thrilling fashion to secure a long-awaited Olympic title and complete the career 'Golden Slam'.
Djokovic, who has won a men's record 24 majors and swept up every title there is in tennis, finally clinched Olympic gold at his fifth Games.
The Serb put in his best performance of the year to beat French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in front of a packed crowd in Paris.
He is just the fifth player to win the 'Golden Slam' in singles - all four majors and the Olympic title - after Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.
Djokovic, 37, left this same court at Roland Garros two months ago needing knee surgery, which put his Olympic dream at risk, and his reaction after Sunday's win showed what it meant.
He turned towards his box, arms outstretched in disbelief, before throwing his racquet to the floor.
After hugging Spain's Alcaraz, Djokovic immediately burst into tears and fell to his knees on the middle of the court.
He then unfurled a Serbian flag and clambered into the stands to celebrate with his family and support team.
Alcaraz, 21, was also in tears after the match, but will leave with a silver medal on his Olympic debut.
Italy's Lorenzo Musetti is the singles bronze medallist, having beaten Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on Friday.
This moment will mean as much to Djokovic, if not more, than all the Grand Slams, Masters 1,000 titles and ATP tournaments he has won.
His family watched on from the stands, bearing Serbian flags, with daughter Tara carrying a sign that said "Dad is the best".
Djokovic has spoken about seeing the Olympics as the pinnacle of sport, and the emotions of representing his country have affected him in his past four Games.
He won singles bronze in Beijing in 2008, finished fourth at London 2012, suffered an emotional early loss in Rio in 2016 and lost the bronze-medal match in Tokyo three years ago.
However, Djokovic did not drop a set in Paris and was focused from the outset, determined to get his hands on the one prize that had eluded him for so long.
The final match itself was a test of his determination - he was on the back foot in the first set but did not give in, saving all eight break points he faced and taking advantage as Alcaraz faltered in both tie-breaks.
It was played in a superb spirit, with both players often left laughing at the quality of the other's shot-making.
The crowd was equally split between Spanish fans, decked in flags, and Serbia supporters carrying signs with "Nole" - Djokovic's nickname - written on.
An electric atmosphere added to the tension - Alcaraz looked the more nervous and had to save a break point in his opening game, but he pushed Djokovic to the limit with his mix of touch and power.
However, Djokovic simply would not give in. He played some of his best tennis when down break point and, after taking the first set, was full of confidence.
There was the occasional gesture towards his support box - who responded by telling him to keep his head up and stay positive - but on the whole, Djokovic was as dialled in as he has been all year.
It has been a difficult season for Djokovic. He lost in the Australian Open semi-finals to Italy's Jannik Sinner, had an indifferent hard court swing, needed knee surgery after injuring himself at Roland Garros and was completely outplayed in his only final of the season this far at Wimbledon.
However, that will only make this victory that much sweeter for a man who shows no sign of stopping.
Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic tennis gold and seal 'Golden Slam'
Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz in thrilling fashion to clinch a long-awaited Olympic title and complete the career 'Golden Slam'.www.bbc.com
I thin this has ended the debate once and for all
Love or hate it, Djoker is the GOAT
There was no debate. Only Nadal fans were clinging on to the fact he was missing the Gold Medal. Djokovic beaten everyone here in straights including currently the best player in the world and his greatest rival.
As far as more tennis fans are concerned, Djokovic was the GOAT more than 18 months ago. Anything he does now is just creating more distance.
I didn't think he could do it today but he summoned something from deep within to pull it off. Today showed me that Djokovic of even 3 years ago would be mopping up right now - let's not even talk about the Djokovic of 2015 early 2016.
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Novak Djokovic confirms participation in Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic confirmed that he will be participating in the upcoming Shanghai Masters which is set to begin in September, confirmed the tournament organisers on Tuesday.
Djokovic, 37, recently clinched a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics by beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final and became the oldest player to win a gold in men’s singles.
The Serb will be making his return to Shanghai after five years as it was cancelled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic has won Shanghai Masters four times, the most in the tournament’s history with his last title coming in 2018, where he defeated Croatian Borna Coric in the final.
In a brief message shared on the tournament’s social media pages, Djokovic said: “Hello! I can’t wait to be back to play in the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
www.geosuper.tv
Novak Djokovic confirmed that he will be participating in the upcoming Shanghai Masters which is set to begin in September, confirmed the tournament organisers on Tuesday.
Djokovic, 37, recently clinched a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics by beating Carlos Alcaraz in the final and became the oldest player to win a gold in men’s singles.
The Serb will be making his return to Shanghai after five years as it was cancelled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Djokovic has won Shanghai Masters four times, the most in the tournament’s history with his last title coming in 2018, where he defeated Croatian Borna Coric in the final.
In a brief message shared on the tournament’s social media pages, Djokovic said: “Hello! I can’t wait to be back to play in the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Novak Djokovic confirms participation in Shanghai Masters
The Serb recently clinched gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics
www.geosuper.tv
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I hate typing this, but he is the GOAT.
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Djokovic blasts 'embarrassing' lack of video replays in tennis
Novak Djokovic blasted the absence of video technology as "embarrassing" on Sunday as the Olympic champion and 24-time Grand Slam title winner weighed in on an umpiring row at the Cincinnati Masters.
Jack Draper defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open warm-up event on Friday despite a suspicion the ball hit the Briton's racquet and then the floor before it popped over the net to secure the match-winning point.
Despite the Canadian's protests, the point was ruled legitimate by the chair umpire and Draper was declared the winner.
"It's embarrassing that we don't have video replay of these kind of situations on the court," Djokovic, who is not playing at the tournament, wrote on social media.
"What's even more ridiculous is that we don't have the rule in place that would allow chair umpires to change the original call based on the video review that happens off the court!
"Everyone who watches TV sees what happened on the replay, yet the players on the court are kept in the 'dark' not knowing what's the outcome."
The Serb star added: "We have Hawkeye for line calls, we live in the technologically advanced 21st century! Please respective Tours, make sure this nonsense never happens again!"
The US Open, the last Grand Slam event of the season, uses video replay but it is widely absent from tour events.
American star Coco Gauff also demanded the introduction of video replays after being dumped out of the Olympic Games at Roland Garros in Paris last month
US Open champion and world number two Gauff became embroiled in a tearful, bitter dispute with the chair umpire over a line call during her loss to Donna Vekic.
She had also argued with the umpire during her semi-final defeat to Iga Swiatek at the French Open on the same courts in June.
Again, the dispute centred on a line call.
"I'm getting cheated in this game. You guys are not fair to me," Gauff told the chair umpire at the Olympics.
"I feel like in tennis, we should have a VR (video review) system because these points are big deals. And, yeah, usually afterwards, they apologise, so it's kind of frustrating when the sorry doesn't help you once the match is over," she said.
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Novak Djokovic calls for anti-doping rule changes on eve of US Open after Jannik Sinner scandal
Novak Djokovic has called for changes to anti-doping rules in the aftermath of the Jannik Sinner scandal.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Sinner failed two anti-doping tests in March but has been absolved of fault or negligence by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Sinner first tested positive on March 10 while competing in Indian Wells and was red-flagged again in an out-of-competition test eight days later.
Both samples yielded trace amounts of clostebol but he was able to continue playing on the ATP Tour after successfully challenging a provisional suspension.
Scientific experts consulted by the ITIA concluded Sinner's account - in which his physiotherapist had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his skin between March 5 to 13 - was credible.
Since the scandal, a number of players have argued that top players are subject to different standards than lower ranked players.
Djokovic weighed in on the saga on the eve of the US Open.
“There is a lot of issues in the system,” Djokovic said. “We see a lack of standardised and clear protocols.
"I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players that are questioning whether they are treated the same.
“Hopefully the governing bodies of our sport will be able to learn from this case and have a better approach for the future. Collectively there has to be a change, and I think that’s obvious.”
He continued: “Many players – without naming any of them [as] I’m sure you know already who – have had similar or pretty much the same cases, where they haven’t had the same outcome.
“And now the question is whether it is a case of the funds, whether a player can afford to pay a significant amount of money for a law firm that would then more efficiently represent his or her case.
"I don’t know. Is that the case or not? That’s something really I feel like we have to collectively investigate more.”
Djokovic will face Radu Albot in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday.
talksport.com
Novak Djokovic has called for changes to anti-doping rules in the aftermath of the Jannik Sinner scandal.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Sinner failed two anti-doping tests in March but has been absolved of fault or negligence by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Sinner first tested positive on March 10 while competing in Indian Wells and was red-flagged again in an out-of-competition test eight days later.
Both samples yielded trace amounts of clostebol but he was able to continue playing on the ATP Tour after successfully challenging a provisional suspension.
Scientific experts consulted by the ITIA concluded Sinner's account - in which his physiotherapist had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his skin between March 5 to 13 - was credible.
Since the scandal, a number of players have argued that top players are subject to different standards than lower ranked players.
Djokovic weighed in on the saga on the eve of the US Open.
“There is a lot of issues in the system,” Djokovic said. “We see a lack of standardised and clear protocols.
"I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players that are questioning whether they are treated the same.
“Hopefully the governing bodies of our sport will be able to learn from this case and have a better approach for the future. Collectively there has to be a change, and I think that’s obvious.”
He continued: “Many players – without naming any of them [as] I’m sure you know already who – have had similar or pretty much the same cases, where they haven’t had the same outcome.
“And now the question is whether it is a case of the funds, whether a player can afford to pay a significant amount of money for a law firm that would then more efficiently represent his or her case.
"I don’t know. Is that the case or not? That’s something really I feel like we have to collectively investigate more.”
Djokovic will face Radu Albot in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday.
Novak Djokovic calls for anti-doping rule changes after Jannik Sinner scandal
Novak Djokovic has called for changes to anti-doping rules in the aftermath of the Jannik Sinner scandal. It was revealed on Tuesday that Sinner failed two anti-doping tests in March but has been a…
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Djokovic starts bid for record 25th major with win
Novak Djokovic began his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title with a straightforward win over Radu Albot in the US Open first round.
One more major would give Djokovic sole ownership of the all-time record for the most major singles titles. He is currently tied with Margaret Court on 24.
The 37-year-old won 6-2 6-2 6-4 in his first match since clinching Olympic gold 23 days ago.
Serbia's Djokovic, who has swept up almost every title there is in tennis, described the triumph in Paris as his "biggest sporting achievement".
However he is still searching for a first Grand Slam title this year, having won at least one every year since 2017.
Speaking before the match, defending champion Djokovic joked that he wanted to "avenge" his two younger brothers - Djordje and Marko - who both lost to Moldova's Albot in the past.
"I feel like there was so much at stake - I feel like there was revenge for my younger brothers," Djokovic, who had never faced Albot before, told ESPN afterwards.
He will face compatriot Laslo Djere in the second round on Wednesday.
There are areas to improve on for Djokovic despite the comfortable scoreline - he hit 10 double faults and 40 unforced errors, along with putting just 47% of his first serves into play.
Playing under a closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic needed 33 minutes to win the opening set, going a double break up before serving out the opener.
Despite the positive start, the four-time US Open champion gestured angrily towards his player's box throughout the match and appeared to be bothered by the humid conditions.
He was still wearing the knee support that he has used since having surgery on the area in June.
After conceding serve early in the second set, Albot managed to break back and level at 2-2 before Djokovic won the next four games.
The world number 138 kept Djokovic at bay for slightly longer in the third set, fending off five break points, but the reigning champion finally broke through the resistance at 3-3 before wrapping up victory as the clock struck midnight in New York.
"I love playing night sessions but maybe not this late," Djokovic said in his on-court interview.
"Nevertheless it was great fun and I want to thank everyone for staying."
The victory also allowed Djokovic to set another record - the most wins (78) by a male player on Flushing Meadows' main showcourt.
"It's the biggest stadium. Definitely the loudest we have in the history of our sport," Djokovic added.
"The night sessions are the best in the world on Arthur Ashe."
BBC
Novak Djokovic began his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title with a straightforward win over Radu Albot in the US Open first round.
One more major would give Djokovic sole ownership of the all-time record for the most major singles titles. He is currently tied with Margaret Court on 24.
The 37-year-old won 6-2 6-2 6-4 in his first match since clinching Olympic gold 23 days ago.
Serbia's Djokovic, who has swept up almost every title there is in tennis, described the triumph in Paris as his "biggest sporting achievement".
However he is still searching for a first Grand Slam title this year, having won at least one every year since 2017.
Speaking before the match, defending champion Djokovic joked that he wanted to "avenge" his two younger brothers - Djordje and Marko - who both lost to Moldova's Albot in the past.
"I feel like there was so much at stake - I feel like there was revenge for my younger brothers," Djokovic, who had never faced Albot before, told ESPN afterwards.
He will face compatriot Laslo Djere in the second round on Wednesday.
There are areas to improve on for Djokovic despite the comfortable scoreline - he hit 10 double faults and 40 unforced errors, along with putting just 47% of his first serves into play.
Playing under a closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic needed 33 minutes to win the opening set, going a double break up before serving out the opener.
Despite the positive start, the four-time US Open champion gestured angrily towards his player's box throughout the match and appeared to be bothered by the humid conditions.
He was still wearing the knee support that he has used since having surgery on the area in June.
After conceding serve early in the second set, Albot managed to break back and level at 2-2 before Djokovic won the next four games.
The world number 138 kept Djokovic at bay for slightly longer in the third set, fending off five break points, but the reigning champion finally broke through the resistance at 3-3 before wrapping up victory as the clock struck midnight in New York.
"I love playing night sessions but maybe not this late," Djokovic said in his on-court interview.
"Nevertheless it was great fun and I want to thank everyone for staying."
The victory also allowed Djokovic to set another record - the most wins (78) by a male player on Flushing Meadows' main showcourt.
"It's the biggest stadium. Definitely the loudest we have in the history of our sport," Djokovic added.
"The night sessions are the best in the world on Arthur Ashe."
BBC
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Djokovic into third round after Djere retires injured
Novak Djokovic is through to the third round of the US Open after a gruelling match came to a premature end when Laslo Djere was forced to retire with injury.
Defending champion Djokovic was leading 6-4 6-4 2-0 when an abdominal issue meant fellow Serb Djere was unable to continue.
Although the match went little more than two sets, the pair were on court for more than two hours in extreme heat and humidity in New York.
"It was a big fight, more than two hours for two sets," Djokovic said.
"I served awful and without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run."
The two scrapped for an hour in a ferociously contested first set before Djokovic found an extra gear to take it with a break to love.
Djokovic appeared to be struggling in the humid conditions early on and received treatment before the second set.
Djere sensed his chance, earned an early break and looked set to level the match at a set apiece, leading 4-2 and with two break points.
However Djokovic held serve and, with his compatriot suddenly showing signs of discomfort, broke back in the next game.
A medical timeout did little to help Djere as Djokovic broke again to snatch the second set.
Despite being visibly in pain, Djere attempted to play on but when he failed to win a point in the first two games of the third set, he approached the net and retired.
That handed Djokovic his 90th win at Flushing Meadows, making him the only man to have won 90 matches at all four Grand Slams.
"It doesn't get bigger than this in terms of a tennis stage," the 37-year-old added.
"The atmosphere is incredible and it's a great privilege to be able to play here again at my age."
Djokovic will face 28th seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia in round three.
Rublev comes back from brink
Earlier, Andrey Rublev fought back from two sets down in brutally hot conditions to beat Arthur Rinderknech 4-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 6-2.
Sixth seed Rublev looked down and out at the end of the second set and was struggling physically and mentally in 33C heat.
However he persevered, only managing to lift his arms above his head in celebration after completing a draining win in four hours and six minutes.
Both Rublev and Rinderknech used ice packs and fans to try to cool down.
Rublev called for the doctor before serving for the match and could be heard telling them: "I've drunk too much, I've eaten too much," adding he felt like he "had a baby" in his stomach.
The 26-year-old then stayed on court to sign autographs despite being visibly drained.
He will face 32nd seed Jiri Lehecka, who also came back from two sets down to beat qualifier Mitchell Krueger, next.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev continued his search for a first Grand Slam title with a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory over Alexandre Muller.
The 27-year-old reached the final in New York in 2020 as well as the French Open final earlier this year.
However, he lost the US Open showpiece to Dominic Thiem from two sets up, and led Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one in Paris before succumbing to the Spaniard.
Zverev said he had doubts he could return to the top level after sustaining a serious ankle injury at the French Open in 2022.
The fourth seed has won 54 singles matches this year - more than any other male player on the tour.
"I had so many doubts, question marks whether I would ever be top 10 or top five in the world [again]," Zverev said.
"It was something that was taken away from me two-and-a-half-years ago and I'm extremely glad to be playing at this level. "
Zverev will face Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry next.
Home home Frances Tiafoe was leading Alexander Shevchenko 6-4 6-1 1-0 when the Kazakh retired with injury, while ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov brushed aside Australia's Rinky Hijikata 6-1 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
In the evening session, Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud overcame France's Gael Monfils 6-4 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-3).
American Taylor Fritz, the 12th seed, is also through after a comfortable 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 victory over Matteo Berrettini of Italy.
It was less comfortable for Berrettini's compatriot Lorenzo Musetti as he beat Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set thriller.
Musetti saved two match points before clinching a 3-6 6-4 6-4 2-6 7-5 win in three hours and 47 minutes.
He celebrated by taking his shirt off and letting out a loud scream as the crowd chanted his name.
BBC
Novak Djokovic is through to the third round of the US Open after a gruelling match came to a premature end when Laslo Djere was forced to retire with injury.
Defending champion Djokovic was leading 6-4 6-4 2-0 when an abdominal issue meant fellow Serb Djere was unable to continue.
Although the match went little more than two sets, the pair were on court for more than two hours in extreme heat and humidity in New York.
"It was a big fight, more than two hours for two sets," Djokovic said.
"I served awful and without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run."
The two scrapped for an hour in a ferociously contested first set before Djokovic found an extra gear to take it with a break to love.
Djokovic appeared to be struggling in the humid conditions early on and received treatment before the second set.
Djere sensed his chance, earned an early break and looked set to level the match at a set apiece, leading 4-2 and with two break points.
However Djokovic held serve and, with his compatriot suddenly showing signs of discomfort, broke back in the next game.
A medical timeout did little to help Djere as Djokovic broke again to snatch the second set.
Despite being visibly in pain, Djere attempted to play on but when he failed to win a point in the first two games of the third set, he approached the net and retired.
That handed Djokovic his 90th win at Flushing Meadows, making him the only man to have won 90 matches at all four Grand Slams.
"It doesn't get bigger than this in terms of a tennis stage," the 37-year-old added.
"The atmosphere is incredible and it's a great privilege to be able to play here again at my age."
Djokovic will face 28th seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia in round three.
Rublev comes back from brink
Earlier, Andrey Rublev fought back from two sets down in brutally hot conditions to beat Arthur Rinderknech 4-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 6-2.
Sixth seed Rublev looked down and out at the end of the second set and was struggling physically and mentally in 33C heat.
However he persevered, only managing to lift his arms above his head in celebration after completing a draining win in four hours and six minutes.
Both Rublev and Rinderknech used ice packs and fans to try to cool down.
Rublev called for the doctor before serving for the match and could be heard telling them: "I've drunk too much, I've eaten too much," adding he felt like he "had a baby" in his stomach.
The 26-year-old then stayed on court to sign autographs despite being visibly drained.
He will face 32nd seed Jiri Lehecka, who also came back from two sets down to beat qualifier Mitchell Krueger, next.
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev continued his search for a first Grand Slam title with a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory over Alexandre Muller.
The 27-year-old reached the final in New York in 2020 as well as the French Open final earlier this year.
However, he lost the US Open showpiece to Dominic Thiem from two sets up, and led Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one in Paris before succumbing to the Spaniard.
Zverev said he had doubts he could return to the top level after sustaining a serious ankle injury at the French Open in 2022.
The fourth seed has won 54 singles matches this year - more than any other male player on the tour.
"I had so many doubts, question marks whether I would ever be top 10 or top five in the world [again]," Zverev said.
"It was something that was taken away from me two-and-a-half-years ago and I'm extremely glad to be playing at this level. "
Zverev will face Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry next.
Home home Frances Tiafoe was leading Alexander Shevchenko 6-4 6-1 1-0 when the Kazakh retired with injury, while ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov brushed aside Australia's Rinky Hijikata 6-1 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
In the evening session, Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud overcame France's Gael Monfils 6-4 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-3).
American Taylor Fritz, the 12th seed, is also through after a comfortable 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 victory over Matteo Berrettini of Italy.
It was less comfortable for Berrettini's compatriot Lorenzo Musetti as he beat Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in a five-set thriller.
Musetti saved two match points before clinching a 3-6 6-4 6-4 2-6 7-5 win in three hours and 47 minutes.
He celebrated by taking his shirt off and letting out a loud scream as the crowd chanted his name.
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Djokovic to continue 25th Slam bid against Popyrin
Novak Djokovic continues his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when he faces Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round at the US Open on Friday.
The Serb, 37, who is tied with Margaret Court on 24 major singles titles, plays the 28th seed in the evening session at 00:00 BST on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Defending champion Djokovic and Popyrin are meeting for the third time at Grand Slams this year, with the Serb winning in four sets at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
"I'm happy to win four sets another time. Don't get me wrong. But he keeps on getting closer and closer, knocking on that door," said Djokovic.
"He's been playing some great tennis, so no reason for him not to believe that he can put up a great performance, and he's going to go for the win. I know that.
"But I know what to expect as well, I'm going to do my homework and see what needs to be done."
Djokovic reached the third round after compatriot Laslo Djere retired hurt in their second-round tie, while Popyrin, 25, beat Spain's Pedro Martinez in straight sets.
The Serb is a four-time winner at Flushing Meadows while Popyrin has not made it past the third round on the two previous occasions he's reached it.
In the women's draw, American third seed Coco Gauff continues the defence of her title against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Arthur Ashe Court from 17:00 BST.
Gauff, 20, beat Germany's Tatjana Maria in straight sets to set up the meeting with 27th seed Svitolina, who breezed past compatriot Anhelina Kalinina 6-1 6-2.
Gauff's triumph was her ninth straight victory at the US Open but faces a player in good form in former world number three Svitolina, who did not drop serve once in victory against Kalinina.
The tie marks the fifth meeting between the pair, with two wins apiece.
Last on Arthur Ashe Court Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on Russian 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka will be hoping she can go one better after finishing as runner-up in New York last year, while Alexandrova is aiming to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
BBC
Novak Djokovic continues his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title when he faces Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the third round at the US Open on Friday.
The Serb, 37, who is tied with Margaret Court on 24 major singles titles, plays the 28th seed in the evening session at 00:00 BST on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Defending champion Djokovic and Popyrin are meeting for the third time at Grand Slams this year, with the Serb winning in four sets at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
"I'm happy to win four sets another time. Don't get me wrong. But he keeps on getting closer and closer, knocking on that door," said Djokovic.
"He's been playing some great tennis, so no reason for him not to believe that he can put up a great performance, and he's going to go for the win. I know that.
"But I know what to expect as well, I'm going to do my homework and see what needs to be done."
Djokovic reached the third round after compatriot Laslo Djere retired hurt in their second-round tie, while Popyrin, 25, beat Spain's Pedro Martinez in straight sets.
The Serb is a four-time winner at Flushing Meadows while Popyrin has not made it past the third round on the two previous occasions he's reached it.
In the women's draw, American third seed Coco Gauff continues the defence of her title against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina on Arthur Ashe Court from 17:00 BST.
Gauff, 20, beat Germany's Tatjana Maria in straight sets to set up the meeting with 27th seed Svitolina, who breezed past compatriot Anhelina Kalinina 6-1 6-2.
Gauff's triumph was her ninth straight victory at the US Open but faces a player in good form in former world number three Svitolina, who did not drop serve once in victory against Kalinina.
The tie marks the fifth meeting between the pair, with two wins apiece.
Last on Arthur Ashe Court Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on Russian 29th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Two-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka will be hoping she can go one better after finishing as runner-up in New York last year, while Alexandrova is aiming to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
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Defending champion Novak Djokovic is shocked at the US Open one night after Carlos Alcaraz's loss
Novak Djokovic did not go easy on himself when assessing the listless way he performed from the start of the U.S. Open, pointing to his sloppy serving as the main reason the defense of his 2023 title surprisingly ended in the third round.
“I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly," Djokovic said, just after midnight as Friday turned to Saturday. “Serving — by far — the worst ever.”
With 14 double-faults, raising his tournament total to 32, Djokovic bowed out with a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia, another shocking result at Flushing Meadows one night after Carlos Alcaraz exited.
“It was just an awful match for me,” the No. 2-seeded Djokovic said. “I wasn’t playing even close to my best. It’s not good to be in that kind of state where you feel OK physically, and of course you’re motivated because it’s a Grand Slam, but you just are not able to find your game. That’s it. The game is falling apart, and I guess you have to accept that tournaments like this happen.”
Not often for him, though.
After all, Djokovic was trying to become the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam singles titles. Instead, after knee surgery in June, he finishes a year without claiming at least one major championship for the first time since 2017. Before that, it hadn't happened since 2010.
Also of note: 2024 now becomes the first season since 2002 in which none of the Big Three of men's tennis — Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — earned a Slam trophy.
The third-round exit equals Djokovic’s worst showing at Flushing Meadows; the only other occasions he was beaten that early at the U.S. Open came in 2005 and 2006. The man who defeated Djokovic 18 years ago, International Tennis Hall of Fame member Lleyton Hewitt, is now Australia’s Davis Cup captain and was sitting in Popyrin’s guest box in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic, who is 37, has reached the final in Ashe 10 times, leaving with the title in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
On Friday, though, he was sluggish and emotionally flat, perhaps residual fatigue after collecting his first Olympic gold medal for Serbia by beating Alcaraz in the final at the Paris Games earlier in August.
“Obviously, it had an effect,” Djokovic said. “I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically. But because it’s the U.S. Open, I gave it a shot and I tried my best. I mean, I didn’t have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas. And you could see that with the way I played.”
The No. 3-seeded Alcaraz entered the U.S. Open as the tournament favorite having won the French Open and Wimbledon, and acknowledged his energy was lower than he realized after getting eliminated by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday night.
Djokovic then replaced Alcaraz as the money-line pick to take the men’s title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, but that status didn’t last long at all.
For the 25-year-old Popyrin, this represents a real breakthrough: He had been 0-3 against Djokovic and 0-6 in third-round matches at majors.
But the strong-serving Popyrin is playing as well as ever, coming off the biggest title of his career less than three weeks ago at a hard-court tournament in Montreal, where he picked up five wins against opponents ranked in the top 20.
Everything was working against Djokovic.
Popyrin was terrific at the net, going 10 for 10 on serve-and-volley approaches and 25 for 36 overall on points when he pushed forward. Djokovic, in contrast, only won the point on 19 of his 40 trips to the net, in part because Popyrin kept flipping passing shots by him.
Popyrin took big cuts with his powerful forehand, accumulating 22 of his 50 total winners with that shot.
And he broke Djokovic five times, including for a lead of 3-2 in the fourth. That game felt titanic, lasting more than 10 minutes and including four break chances for Popyrin, who converted the last with an inside-out forehand to close a 22-stroke exchange, then rocked back on his heels, clenched both fists and let out a roar. He took Djokovic’s next service game, too, to make it 5-2.
The first time Popyrin served for the match, he faltered, allowing Djokovic to break. The second time, Popyrin finished the deal, holding at love when Djokovic sent a forehand long.
Now Popyrin will try to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by getting past No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, who advanced Friday with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 13 Ben Shelton in a matchup between two Americans.
“If he serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody,” Djokovic said about Popyrin. “Look, Alcaraz is out. I’m out. Some big upsets. The draw is opening up.”
AP NEWS
Novak Djokovic did not go easy on himself when assessing the listless way he performed from the start of the U.S. Open, pointing to his sloppy serving as the main reason the defense of his 2023 title surprisingly ended in the third round.
“I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played, honestly," Djokovic said, just after midnight as Friday turned to Saturday. “Serving — by far — the worst ever.”
With 14 double-faults, raising his tournament total to 32, Djokovic bowed out with a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 loss to 28th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia, another shocking result at Flushing Meadows one night after Carlos Alcaraz exited.
“It was just an awful match for me,” the No. 2-seeded Djokovic said. “I wasn’t playing even close to my best. It’s not good to be in that kind of state where you feel OK physically, and of course you’re motivated because it’s a Grand Slam, but you just are not able to find your game. That’s it. The game is falling apart, and I guess you have to accept that tournaments like this happen.”
Not often for him, though.
After all, Djokovic was trying to become the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam singles titles. Instead, after knee surgery in June, he finishes a year without claiming at least one major championship for the first time since 2017. Before that, it hadn't happened since 2010.
Also of note: 2024 now becomes the first season since 2002 in which none of the Big Three of men's tennis — Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — earned a Slam trophy.
The third-round exit equals Djokovic’s worst showing at Flushing Meadows; the only other occasions he was beaten that early at the U.S. Open came in 2005 and 2006. The man who defeated Djokovic 18 years ago, International Tennis Hall of Fame member Lleyton Hewitt, is now Australia’s Davis Cup captain and was sitting in Popyrin’s guest box in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic, who is 37, has reached the final in Ashe 10 times, leaving with the title in 2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023.
On Friday, though, he was sluggish and emotionally flat, perhaps residual fatigue after collecting his first Olympic gold medal for Serbia by beating Alcaraz in the final at the Paris Games earlier in August.
“Obviously, it had an effect,” Djokovic said. “I spent a lot of energy winning the gold, and I did arrive to New York just not feeling fresh mentally and physically. But because it’s the U.S. Open, I gave it a shot and I tried my best. I mean, I didn’t have any physical issues. I just felt out of gas. And you could see that with the way I played.”
The No. 3-seeded Alcaraz entered the U.S. Open as the tournament favorite having won the French Open and Wimbledon, and acknowledged his energy was lower than he realized after getting eliminated by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday night.
Djokovic then replaced Alcaraz as the money-line pick to take the men’s title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, but that status didn’t last long at all.
For the 25-year-old Popyrin, this represents a real breakthrough: He had been 0-3 against Djokovic and 0-6 in third-round matches at majors.
But the strong-serving Popyrin is playing as well as ever, coming off the biggest title of his career less than three weeks ago at a hard-court tournament in Montreal, where he picked up five wins against opponents ranked in the top 20.
Everything was working against Djokovic.
Popyrin was terrific at the net, going 10 for 10 on serve-and-volley approaches and 25 for 36 overall on points when he pushed forward. Djokovic, in contrast, only won the point on 19 of his 40 trips to the net, in part because Popyrin kept flipping passing shots by him.
Popyrin took big cuts with his powerful forehand, accumulating 22 of his 50 total winners with that shot.
And he broke Djokovic five times, including for a lead of 3-2 in the fourth. That game felt titanic, lasting more than 10 minutes and including four break chances for Popyrin, who converted the last with an inside-out forehand to close a 22-stroke exchange, then rocked back on his heels, clenched both fists and let out a roar. He took Djokovic’s next service game, too, to make it 5-2.
The first time Popyrin served for the match, he faltered, allowing Djokovic to break. The second time, Popyrin finished the deal, holding at love when Djokovic sent a forehand long.
Now Popyrin will try to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by getting past No. 20 Frances Tiafoe, who advanced Friday with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 13 Ben Shelton in a matchup between two Americans.
“If he serves well, plays well, he can beat anybody,” Djokovic said about Popyrin. “Look, Alcaraz is out. I’m out. Some big upsets. The draw is opening up.”
AP NEWS
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Novak Djokovic details retirement plan after tennis superstar's tournament quit threat
Novak Djokovic knows he hasn't got long left playing among tennis' elite - but he can't see himself walking away from the game when he retires.
The current world No.4, now 37, has had an up-and-down 2024, with his only major triumph coming at the Olympics, the Serb finally winning the gold medal that had for so long eluded him. But there have also been an unusual number of early exits.
Now back at the Shanghai Masters for the first time in five years, and back in action for the first time since he represented Serbia at last month's Davis Cup, Djokovic admits the fire still burns - even if he can't commit to a schedule as hectic as during his younger days.
"My love for tennis will never fade away. I have a lot of emotions when I'm playing, and not particularly only in the tournament, but also practice sessions," he insists.
"Sometimes it's not always going your way, but I think my relationship with tennis goes much deeper than a tournament or a year or success or failure, it's just, you know, a sport that I fell in love with when I was very young, and I still have the love for the sport."
And don't expect to see the 24-time Grand Slam champion go quietly into the night when he puts his racket away.
He added: "Even when I retire from professional tennis, I feel like I'm going to stay in tennis, stay involved in, you know, in different roles, because I feel like I owe this sport a lot for what it has been giving to me."
The Shanghai Masters - where he could remarkably win his 100th title - is the only tournament he has committed to for the rest of 2024. Djokovic hasn't confirmed whether he will appear at the last Masters 1000 event of the season, in Paris. And if he doesn't then it may well be the end of his year, as a lack of ranking points this year means he could miss out on the ATP Finals.
It comes after he confessed last month that the Masters tournaments were no longer a priority for him, as he threatened to seriously cull his schedule.
"Usually in my career I used to have my schedule ready six months in advance, but nowadays that’s not the case," he explained. "Now it’s more spontaneous. Firstly, I need to physically, emotionally and mentally rest in order to even start thinking what I want to do next, in what way, how much and where."
Addressing the ATP Finals, which will take place in Turin, he added: "Torino is not my goal at all, to be honest. I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings. As far as I’m concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will play others this year or in the future, I can’t say right now.
"My main priorities are playing for the national team and Slams. Everything else is less important. I said a million times how much it means to play for the national team."
www.mirror.co.uk
Novak Djokovic knows he hasn't got long left playing among tennis' elite - but he can't see himself walking away from the game when he retires.
The current world No.4, now 37, has had an up-and-down 2024, with his only major triumph coming at the Olympics, the Serb finally winning the gold medal that had for so long eluded him. But there have also been an unusual number of early exits.
Now back at the Shanghai Masters for the first time in five years, and back in action for the first time since he represented Serbia at last month's Davis Cup, Djokovic admits the fire still burns - even if he can't commit to a schedule as hectic as during his younger days.
"My love for tennis will never fade away. I have a lot of emotions when I'm playing, and not particularly only in the tournament, but also practice sessions," he insists.
"Sometimes it's not always going your way, but I think my relationship with tennis goes much deeper than a tournament or a year or success or failure, it's just, you know, a sport that I fell in love with when I was very young, and I still have the love for the sport."
And don't expect to see the 24-time Grand Slam champion go quietly into the night when he puts his racket away.
He added: "Even when I retire from professional tennis, I feel like I'm going to stay in tennis, stay involved in, you know, in different roles, because I feel like I owe this sport a lot for what it has been giving to me."
The Shanghai Masters - where he could remarkably win his 100th title - is the only tournament he has committed to for the rest of 2024. Djokovic hasn't confirmed whether he will appear at the last Masters 1000 event of the season, in Paris. And if he doesn't then it may well be the end of his year, as a lack of ranking points this year means he could miss out on the ATP Finals.
It comes after he confessed last month that the Masters tournaments were no longer a priority for him, as he threatened to seriously cull his schedule.
"Usually in my career I used to have my schedule ready six months in advance, but nowadays that’s not the case," he explained. "Now it’s more spontaneous. Firstly, I need to physically, emotionally and mentally rest in order to even start thinking what I want to do next, in what way, how much and where."
Addressing the ATP Finals, which will take place in Turin, he added: "Torino is not my goal at all, to be honest. I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings. As far as I’m concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will play others this year or in the future, I can’t say right now.
"My main priorities are playing for the national team and Slams. Everything else is less important. I said a million times how much it means to play for the national team."
Novak Djokovic details tennis retirement plan after tournament quit threat
Novak Djokovic won the Olympic gold medal that had for so long eluded him in Paris in August, but has been picking and choosing events as he looks to tailor his schedule, at the age of 37
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Djokovic ‘shakes rust off’ to make third round of Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic said it took time to “get the rust off” as he fought through two tiebreaks to make his way into the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. The Serbian beat American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling two-set match that finished 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (11/9).
Meanwhile Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showed why they were top in the world as they raced through to the next stage with confident straight-set wins. Sinner dispatched Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-4, while Alcaraz made short work of China’s Shang Juncheng, winning 6-2, 6-2. Four-time Shanghai champion Djokovic did not have it quite so easy against 43rd ranked Michelsen. Introduced as the “Greatest Of All Time” as he walked onto the court, he received a rapturous welcome from the packed stadium.
dailytimes.com.pk
Novak Djokovic said it took time to “get the rust off” as he fought through two tiebreaks to make his way into the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. The Serbian beat American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling two-set match that finished 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (11/9).
Meanwhile Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showed why they were top in the world as they raced through to the next stage with confident straight-set wins. Sinner dispatched Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-4, while Alcaraz made short work of China’s Shang Juncheng, winning 6-2, 6-2. Four-time Shanghai champion Djokovic did not have it quite so easy against 43rd ranked Michelsen. Introduced as the “Greatest Of All Time” as he walked onto the court, he received a rapturous welcome from the packed stadium.
Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters - Daily Times
Novak Djokovic said it took time to “get the rust off” as he fought through two tiebreaks to make his way into the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. The Serbian beat American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling two-set match that finished 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (11/9). Meanwhile Jannik Sinner...
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Shanghai Masters 2024: 'Fresh and happy' Novak Djokovic dominates Flavio Cobolli, Taylor Fritz sets Holger Rune date
Novak Djokovic cantered into the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-1 6-2 win over Flavio Cobolli on a day of strong performances from the seeded stars in China.
The Serbian, a record four-time champion at the event, put in a dominant display on serve and broke the 28th seed four times to wrap up victory in just 62 minutes.
Next up for the fourth seed is a match with Roman Safiullin, who came back from a set down to beat Frances Tiafoe 5-7 7-5 7-6(5) in a marathon three-hour contest.
www.eurosport.com
Novak Djokovic cantered into the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-1 6-2 win over Flavio Cobolli on a day of strong performances from the seeded stars in China.
The Serbian, a record four-time champion at the event, put in a dominant display on serve and broke the 28th seed four times to wrap up victory in just 62 minutes.
Next up for the fourth seed is a match with Roman Safiullin, who came back from a set down to beat Frances Tiafoe 5-7 7-5 7-6(5) in a marathon three-hour contest.
Shanghai Masters 2024: 'Fresh and happy' Novak Djokovic dominates Flavio Cobolli, Taylor Fritz sets Holger Rune date - Eurosport
Novak Djokovic cantered into the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-1 6-2 win over Flavio Cobolli on a day of strong performances from the seeded stars in
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'I still plan to compete and play next season,' says Djokovic
The 37-year-old Serb, the holder of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, went down 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to the Italian in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
It was Djokovic's third defeat in his last four clashes against the Australian Open and US Open champion.
However, Djokovic said he has no intention of following career-long rival Rafael Nadal into retirement even though he endured by his own admission "one of the worst-performing seasons in terms of results".
"I don't know what the future brings, I'll just try to kind of go with the flow to see how I feel in a given moment but I still plan to compete and play next season," he told reporters.
Djokovic failed to add to his Grand Slam haul in 2024 as Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who claimed the French Open and Wimbledon titles, took possession of the sport's major honours.
However, Djokovic was crowned Olympic champion, winning an emotional roller-coaster of a final against Alcaraz in Paris in August. That was his 99th career title.
Sunday's loss left him frustratingly short of becoming just the third man after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to win 100 titles.
"It's not a live-or-die type of goal for me, I think I've achieved all of my biggest goals in my career," he said.
"Right now it's really about Slams and about still seeing how far I can kind of push the bar for myself."
Djokovic hailed Sinner who at 23 is 14 years his junior. His title in Shanghai was his seventh of the year.
"He's very solid from the forehand and backhand, doesn't make too many mistakes, and just tries to take away the time from the opponent," said Djokovic.
"That's something that reminds me of myself throughout my career, that's what I've done for so many years consistently, playing fast-paced tennis, taking away time from the opponent, kind of suffocating the opponent in a certain way."
The 37-year-old Serb, the holder of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles, went down 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to the Italian in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
It was Djokovic's third defeat in his last four clashes against the Australian Open and US Open champion.
However, Djokovic said he has no intention of following career-long rival Rafael Nadal into retirement even though he endured by his own admission "one of the worst-performing seasons in terms of results".
"I don't know what the future brings, I'll just try to kind of go with the flow to see how I feel in a given moment but I still plan to compete and play next season," he told reporters.
Djokovic failed to add to his Grand Slam haul in 2024 as Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who claimed the French Open and Wimbledon titles, took possession of the sport's major honours.
However, Djokovic was crowned Olympic champion, winning an emotional roller-coaster of a final against Alcaraz in Paris in August. That was his 99th career title.
Sunday's loss left him frustratingly short of becoming just the third man after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to win 100 titles.
"It's not a live-or-die type of goal for me, I think I've achieved all of my biggest goals in my career," he said.
"Right now it's really about Slams and about still seeing how far I can kind of push the bar for myself."
Djokovic hailed Sinner who at 23 is 14 years his junior. His title in Shanghai was his seventh of the year.
"He's very solid from the forehand and backhand, doesn't make too many mistakes, and just tries to take away the time from the opponent," said Djokovic.
"That's something that reminds me of myself throughout my career, that's what I've done for so many years consistently, playing fast-paced tennis, taking away time from the opponent, kind of suffocating the opponent in a certain way."
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Djokovic withdraws from Paris Masters
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's Paris Masters, potentially ending his 2024 season.
The 37-year-old, who is the defending champion in Paris, has won a record 40 Masters titles in his career along with his 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic is still in contention to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin next month, but is currently sixth in the race for the eight-man field event with a number of players still able to overtake him.
"Unfortunately I won't be playing the Paris Masters this year," Djokovic posted on social media.
"I have a lot of great memories, winning seven titles and I hope to be back with you next year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me there."
For the first time since 2017, Djokovic will end the season without a Grand Slam title after victories for Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the four majors.
However, Djokovic did win his first Olympic gold medal in Paris in August.
BBC
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's Paris Masters, potentially ending his 2024 season.
The 37-year-old, who is the defending champion in Paris, has won a record 40 Masters titles in his career along with his 24 Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic is still in contention to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin next month, but is currently sixth in the race for the eight-man field event with a number of players still able to overtake him.
"Unfortunately I won't be playing the Paris Masters this year," Djokovic posted on social media.
"I have a lot of great memories, winning seven titles and I hope to be back with you next year. Sorry to everyone who was hoping to see me there."
For the first time since 2017, Djokovic will end the season without a Grand Slam title after victories for Italy's Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the four majors.
However, Djokovic did win his first Olympic gold medal in Paris in August.
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Djokovic pulls out of ATP Finals
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Finals because of an "ongoing injury".
The 37-year-old Serb, who has won a record seven titles at the event, had already qualified as the sixth most successful player on the ATP Tour this season.
"I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won't be playing next week," Djokovic wrote on social media.
"Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon."
Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles, will not play again this season. He has not specified the nature of his injury.
He won 37 of his 46 matches in 2024 and claimed his sole title at the Olympic Games in Paris - landing the gold medal that had previously eluded him.
It is the first season since 2005 in which he has not won an ATP event and only the fourth since 2008 where he has not won one of the four Grand Slam titles.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Finals because of an "ongoing injury".
The 37-year-old Serb, who has won a record seven titles at the event, had already qualified as the sixth most successful player on the ATP Tour this season.
"I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won't be playing next week," Djokovic wrote on social media.
"Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon."
Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles, will not play again this season. He has not specified the nature of his injury.
He won 37 of his 46 matches in 2024 and claimed his sole title at the Olympic Games in Paris - landing the gold medal that had previously eluded him.
It is the first season since 2005 in which he has not won an ATP event and only the fourth since 2008 where he has not won one of the four Grand Slam titles.
Novak Djokovic pulls out of ATP Finals in Turin because of injury
Defending champion Novak Djokovic pulls out of the ATP Finals because of injury, a move which sets the eight-man field for the event.
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Novak Djokovic appoints Andy Murray as coach for Australian Open
Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray to coach him into and through the Australian Open.
Announcing the collaboration, Djokovic said: "I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach."
He said he was looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Murray, with whom he said he has "shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil".
In a video posted on X, the Serbian player added: "We had some of the most epic battles in our sport... I thought our story was over, turns out it has one final chapter.
"It is time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner."
Three-time Grand Slam winner Murray retired in August after exiting the men's doubles at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The announcement means he will join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his professional playing career, with Murray losing four Australian Open finals to Djokovic in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
But Murray claimed victory over Djokovic at the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013.
In a statement, Murray added: "I'm going to be joining Novak's team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open.
"I'm really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals."
Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion who has spent more weeks at number one than any other player in tennis history.
The Serbian player split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year.
He said he hopes adding Murray to his team will help him secure a record 11th Australian Open win.
Djokovic has slipped to seventh in the world rankings, having gone through a calendar year without winning a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017.
The Australian Open runs from 12 to 26 January.
Novak Djokovic appoints Andy Murray as coach for Australian Open
The announcement means Murray will join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his professional playing career.
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Murray partnership 'exciting' for tennis - Djokovic
Novak Djokovic says his decision to appoint former rival Andy Murray as his coach was "a surprise to everyone" but is "exciting for tennis".
Britain's three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, who retired from tennis in August, will work with Djokovic in the off-season and in the build-up to the Australian Open.
Men's record 24-time major winner Djokovic, speaking to Sky Sports, admitted his phonecall caught Murray "a little off-guard".
But the Serb, 37 - the same age as Murray - said the pair "connected really fast" and Murray took only a few days to agree to the role, less than four months after ending his career at the Paris Olympics.
Djokovic, who is level with Margaret Court for the most major singles titles won by any player, said: "I took about six months to figure out what I needed at this stage of my career.
"I realised the perfect coach would be someone who has been through the experiences I'm going through, possibly a multiple Grand slam winner and world number one.
"We discussed Andy Murray and I said I would give him a call and see how it goes. It caught him a little of guard. We connected really fast and he accepted after a few days.
"I couldn't be more excited about it. This collaboration is a surprise to everyone, including me, but it's exciting for tennis."
The Serb ended his wait for Olympic gold in Paris this summer but otherwise had a difficult 2024 by his high standards.
It is the first season since 2005 in which Djokovic did not win an ATP event, while he failed to win a major title for the first time since 2017.
Born just weeks apart, Djokovic and Murray grew up as junior rivals before competing against each other for the sport's biggest titles.
Rafael Nadal became the latest of the 'Big Four' era in the men's game to leave the sport in November, with the end of Murray's career coming after Roger Federer retired in 2022.
Discussing his own future, Djokovic said: "We all know we have to stop and say goodbye at some point. Even though it was expected for Rafa and Andy, both of them saying farewell to the sport is a shock for all of us.
"My body is serving me well, I still have motivation to win Grand Slams. The reason I asked Andy to work with me is because I still have big plans.
"I'll keep going as much as I can feel like I can keep being a candidate for the biggest titles."
Novak Djokovic says Andy Murray partnership is a 'surprise' but 'exciting for tennis'
Novak Djokovic says his decision to appoint former rival Andy Murray as his coach was "a surprise to everyone" but is "exciting for tennis".
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Djokovic to begin bid for 25th Grand Slam in Brisbane
Novak Djokovic will play at the Brisbane International before he starts his bid to win a 25th Grand Slam at Melbourne's Australian Open in January.
The 37-year-old, a 10-time winner in Melbourne, is tied with Australian Margaret Court on a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
The Serbian, ranked seventh in the world, failed to add to his Grand Slam tally during a frustrating 2024.
The tournament in Brisbane, which runs from 29 December until 5 January, is the final event before the Australian Open begins on 12 January.
"I'm excited to be kicking off my Australian swing at the Brisbane International and to compete again at Pat Rafter Arena," said Djokovic.
"I am looking forward to experiencing the incredible support from the Australian fans and making this tournament one to remember."
With 99 ATP titles to his name, Djokovic is aiming to join American Jimmy Connors (109) and Swiss Roger Federer (103) as just the third man in the Open era to win 100 career titles.
The field in Brisbane features Nick Kyrgios, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune.
Djokovic appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open last month.
The former British number one was beaten by Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open on four occasions.
It remains to be seen whether Murray, a winner of three Grand Slams will join Djokovic in Brisbane or begin his coaching role at a later date.
Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Australia Open earlier this year, losing to eventual winner Jannik Sinner.
BBC
Novak Djokovic will play at the Brisbane International before he starts his bid to win a 25th Grand Slam at Melbourne's Australian Open in January.
The 37-year-old, a 10-time winner in Melbourne, is tied with Australian Margaret Court on a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
The Serbian, ranked seventh in the world, failed to add to his Grand Slam tally during a frustrating 2024.
The tournament in Brisbane, which runs from 29 December until 5 January, is the final event before the Australian Open begins on 12 January.
"I'm excited to be kicking off my Australian swing at the Brisbane International and to compete again at Pat Rafter Arena," said Djokovic.
"I am looking forward to experiencing the incredible support from the Australian fans and making this tournament one to remember."
With 99 ATP titles to his name, Djokovic is aiming to join American Jimmy Connors (109) and Swiss Roger Federer (103) as just the third man in the Open era to win 100 career titles.
The field in Brisbane features Nick Kyrgios, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune.
Djokovic appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open last month.
The former British number one was beaten by Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open on four occasions.
It remains to be seen whether Murray, a winner of three Grand Slams will join Djokovic in Brisbane or begin his coaching role at a later date.
Djokovic reached the semi-finals of the Australia Open earlier this year, losing to eventual winner Jannik Sinner.
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Djokovic out of Brisbane in shock defeat by Opelka
Top seed Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Brisbane International in a straight-set quarter-final defeat by Reilly Opelka.
Djokovic, chasing his 100th ATP title, went neck-and-neck with the American in the first set before Opelka eased to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 victory in one hour and 40 minutes.
Opelka, 27, will now face France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who beat Jakub Mensik 7-5 7-6 (7-5) to reach the semi-finals.
BBC
Top seed Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Brisbane International in a straight-set quarter-final defeat by Reilly Opelka.
Djokovic, chasing his 100th ATP title, went neck-and-neck with the American in the first set before Opelka eased to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 victory in one hour and 40 minutes.
Opelka, 27, will now face France's Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who beat Jakub Mensik 7-5 7-6 (7-5) to reach the semi-finals.
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Djokovic wants to 'focus on tennis' after poisoning claim
Novak Djokovic says he wants to "focus on tennis" after claiming in a magazine interview he had been "poisoned" when detained in a Melbourne hotel.
Local reporters unsuccessfully demanded further explanation as the 37-year-old Serb walked out of a pre-Australian Open news conference which ended in bizarre fashion.
Djokovic, a record 10-time men's champion at Melbourne Park, was deported from the Australian city in 2022 after arriving without a vaccination against Covid-19.
The deportation came when he failed to overturn a decision from the Australian government to cancel his visa on public health grounds.
In an interview with GQ magazine, external published on Thursday, Djokovic said he had "some health issues" when he returned to Serbia.
"I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed with some food that poisoned me," he added.
"I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury."
The Australian Border Force has not responded to the accusations.
"For privacy reasons, we cannot comment on individual cases," the Department of Home Affairs told BBC Sport.
What happened in the news conference?
Djokovic's news conference on Friday had been wrapped up by a moderator before the player said he would answer another question from an Australian reporter.
She asked Djokovic if he had evidence to support his claim the food he was served while detained in the Park Hotel caused the heavy metal levels.
"I've done that interview many months ago," he replied.
"I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I would like to focus on the tennis and why I'm here."
Djokovic flew to Australia at the end of December and told Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper this week he still feels "trauma" when he arrives in the country.
Shortly before Djokovic was deported in 2022, a newspaper poll found 71% of Australians believed he should be deported but he received a warm welcome when he returned to Melbourne Park in 2023.
On Friday, Australian player Nick Kyrgios said the country "shouldn't have" deported Djokovic.
What do the food experts say?
One Australian academic, speaking to the Guardian,, external said Djokovic's claim was a "wild accusation".
"It's possible but very unlikely given how long he was locked up," said Damian Maganja, research fellow in food policy at the George Institute for Global Health.
"These meals were probably made in mass amounts and there haven't been other reports as far as I know."
Djokovic was sent to an immigration hotel where refugees and asylum seekers had long complained of poor conditions.
In December 2022, shortly before Djokovic had arrived at the Park Hotel, detainees had complained about finding maggots in their food.
By the time Djokovic was sent there, the hotel had been certified and licensed by the City of Melbourne local authority as a food service premises. It was subject to auditing and inspection by the city's Department of Health.
Detainees are said to have had access to a variety of food and beverages, which was deemed nutritious, culturally appropriate and met any specific medical or dietary requirements.
Djokovic has long been known to eat a gluten and dairy-free diet, while following a largely plant-based nutritional regime - which he has regularly cited as a recipe for his success.
Fish and shellfish commonly have higher levels of mercury than other foods, according to the NHS.
BBC
Novak Djokovic says he wants to "focus on tennis" after claiming in a magazine interview he had been "poisoned" when detained in a Melbourne hotel.
Local reporters unsuccessfully demanded further explanation as the 37-year-old Serb walked out of a pre-Australian Open news conference which ended in bizarre fashion.
Djokovic, a record 10-time men's champion at Melbourne Park, was deported from the Australian city in 2022 after arriving without a vaccination against Covid-19.
The deportation came when he failed to overturn a decision from the Australian government to cancel his visa on public health grounds.
In an interview with GQ magazine, external published on Thursday, Djokovic said he had "some health issues" when he returned to Serbia.
"I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed with some food that poisoned me," he added.
"I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury."
The Australian Border Force has not responded to the accusations.
"For privacy reasons, we cannot comment on individual cases," the Department of Home Affairs told BBC Sport.
What happened in the news conference?
Djokovic's news conference on Friday had been wrapped up by a moderator before the player said he would answer another question from an Australian reporter.
She asked Djokovic if he had evidence to support his claim the food he was served while detained in the Park Hotel caused the heavy metal levels.
"I've done that interview many months ago," he replied.
"I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I would like to focus on the tennis and why I'm here."
Djokovic flew to Australia at the end of December and told Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper this week he still feels "trauma" when he arrives in the country.
Shortly before Djokovic was deported in 2022, a newspaper poll found 71% of Australians believed he should be deported but he received a warm welcome when he returned to Melbourne Park in 2023.
On Friday, Australian player Nick Kyrgios said the country "shouldn't have" deported Djokovic.
What do the food experts say?
One Australian academic, speaking to the Guardian,, external said Djokovic's claim was a "wild accusation".
"It's possible but very unlikely given how long he was locked up," said Damian Maganja, research fellow in food policy at the George Institute for Global Health.
"These meals were probably made in mass amounts and there haven't been other reports as far as I know."
Djokovic was sent to an immigration hotel where refugees and asylum seekers had long complained of poor conditions.
In December 2022, shortly before Djokovic had arrived at the Park Hotel, detainees had complained about finding maggots in their food.
By the time Djokovic was sent there, the hotel had been certified and licensed by the City of Melbourne local authority as a food service premises. It was subject to auditing and inspection by the city's Department of Health.
Detainees are said to have had access to a variety of food and beverages, which was deemed nutritious, culturally appropriate and met any specific medical or dietary requirements.
Djokovic has long been known to eat a gluten and dairy-free diet, while following a largely plant-based nutritional regime - which he has regularly cited as a recipe for his success.
Fish and shellfish commonly have higher levels of mercury than other foods, according to the NHS.
BBC
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Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic partnership like ‘Messi coaching Ronaldo’
Novak Djokovic receiving coaching advice from Andy Murray at the Australian Open is like Lionel Messi teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo, three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev has claimed.
The partnership between old rivals Djokovic and Murray has been the talk of tennis ahead of the opening grand slam of the season and Medvedev believes it is great for the sport.
Murray revealed that he could not think of anything worse than coaching after retiring from tennis at last year’s Olympics, but could not say no to a surprise offer from Djokovic to join his team.
Djokovic, who is bidding to win a 25th grand slam in Melbourne but faces a tough draw, has praised Murray’s “tennis IQ” and says his former rival has a “unique perspective” on his strengths and weaknesses.
“The impact on Novak is tough to say,” said Medevedev. “The thing about coaching Novak, he’s so strong, that imagine he wins, is it because of Andy or because it’s Novak?
“I think it’s a great partnership in terms of everything, even like energy, like media-wise, tennis-wise, growing tennis. It’s great.
“Imagine if Messi would become the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be strange.”
Murray has said that he is ready to handle any frustrations from his player, with Djokovic known to vent at his coaching box when he is facing stressful situations on the court.
“I would think that I’d be one of the people that would maybe, hopefully, understand that side of things,” Murray told reporters in Melbourne.
“I know it’s not easy out there, and it’s stressful, and at times he’s going to want to vent towards his team and his box.
“Providing that he’s giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I’m absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants.”
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Novak Djokovic receiving coaching advice from Andy Murray at the Australian Open is like Lionel Messi teaming up with Cristiano Ronaldo, three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev has claimed.
The partnership between old rivals Djokovic and Murray has been the talk of tennis ahead of the opening grand slam of the season and Medvedev believes it is great for the sport.
Murray revealed that he could not think of anything worse than coaching after retiring from tennis at last year’s Olympics, but could not say no to a surprise offer from Djokovic to join his team.
Djokovic, who is bidding to win a 25th grand slam in Melbourne but faces a tough draw, has praised Murray’s “tennis IQ” and says his former rival has a “unique perspective” on his strengths and weaknesses.
“The impact on Novak is tough to say,” said Medevedev. “The thing about coaching Novak, he’s so strong, that imagine he wins, is it because of Andy or because it’s Novak?
“I think it’s a great partnership in terms of everything, even like energy, like media-wise, tennis-wise, growing tennis. It’s great.
“Imagine if Messi would become the coach of Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be strange.”
Murray has said that he is ready to handle any frustrations from his player, with Djokovic known to vent at his coaching box when he is facing stressful situations on the court.
“I would think that I’d be one of the people that would maybe, hopefully, understand that side of things,” Murray told reporters in Melbourne.
“I know it’s not easy out there, and it’s stressful, and at times he’s going to want to vent towards his team and his box.
“Providing that he’s giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I’m absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants.”
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic partnership like ‘Messi coaching Ronaldo’
Daniil Medvedev said the new duo is great for tennis as he compared the partnership to football legends Messi and Ronaldo
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'Blessed' Djokovic breaks Federer record in Melbourne win
Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer's all-time record for the most major singles matches played as he reached the Australian Open third round.
The 37-year-old was made to work in his 430th Grand Slam singles match but he emerged triumphant, beating qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-2.
The win gives Djokovic sole ownership of the all-time record for most Grand Slam singles matches played among men and women, and takes him past former rival Federer, who played his last major match at Wimbledon in 2021.
"I love this sport. I love competition," Djokovic said when asked about the milestone.
"I try to give my best every single time. It's been over 20 years that I've been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level.
"Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I'm just blessed to be making another record."
The victory also meant the Serb became the first man over the age of 30 to reach 150 Grand Slam singles wins.
Djokovic can make further history still in Melbourne - win the title and he would claim a 25th major, moving him clear of Australia's Margaret Court as the sole leader of all-time Grand Slam singles titles.
The seventh seed, who has three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in his coaching box, will face Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac in the third round.
BBC
Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer's all-time record for the most major singles matches played as he reached the Australian Open third round.
The 37-year-old was made to work in his 430th Grand Slam singles match but he emerged triumphant, beating qualifier Jaime Faria 6-1 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-2.
The win gives Djokovic sole ownership of the all-time record for most Grand Slam singles matches played among men and women, and takes him past former rival Federer, who played his last major match at Wimbledon in 2021.
"I love this sport. I love competition," Djokovic said when asked about the milestone.
"I try to give my best every single time. It's been over 20 years that I've been competing in Grand Slams at the highest level.
"Whether I win or lose, I will always leave my heart out on the court. I'm just blessed to be making another record."
The victory also meant the Serb became the first man over the age of 30 to reach 150 Grand Slam singles wins.
Djokovic can make further history still in Melbourne - win the title and he would claim a 25th major, moving him clear of Australia's Margaret Court as the sole leader of all-time Grand Slam singles titles.
The seventh seed, who has three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in his coaching box, will face Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac in the third round.
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Novak Djokovic explains why he boycotted Australian Open post-match interview
Novak Djokovic insists he boycotted a post-match interview at the Australian Open after claiming a journalist for an official broadcaster made “offensive” remarks towards him.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who maintains he is happy to receive a fine over his stance, also claimed Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones made a “mockery” of Serbian fans at Melbourne Park.
A video on social media shows Jones presenting for Channel 9 in front of Djokovic fans before remarking: "Novak, he's overrated, Novak's a has-been, Novak kick him out.”
And after dispatching Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in the fourth round, Djokovic was greeted by four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier to obtain his thoughts on the match and a quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz, who he met in the final of the Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics last year.
But Djokovic opted against a conversation and instead made a simple statement before being booed by some fans: “Thank you for being here tonight, I appreciate your presence and support and I'll see you in the next round.”
And now the 37-year-old, who did stop to sign autographs for supporters in Rod Laver Arena before exiting, has elaborated on his reasons: “I would like to just clarify the reason why the interview was not conducted on the court, the post-match interview, like it's a common, usual practice.
“Couple days ago the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster, Channel 9 here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me.
“And since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel 9. So since they're official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9. I have nothing against Jim Courier or neither the Australian public.
“It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today. It's unfortunate I chose to say something to the crowd, but obviously wasn't the time and space or situation for me to explain what I'm doing right now.
“I leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they think they see fit.
“I told [Craig Tiley], if you guys want to fine me for not giving an on-court interview, that's OK. I'll accept that 'cause I feel like this is something that needs to be done. That's all there is to it.”
Djokovic was then pushed over whether this would be an ongoing stance, to which he replied: “Yes, exactly.”
It will be an eighth meeting overall and fourth at a grand slam between Djokovic and Alcaraz in the next round, with the Serbian having triumphed in the semi-finals at the French Open in 2023, while Alcaraz has won the last two Wimbledon finals.
Their last meeting came at Roland Garros in the Olympic final last summer, when Djokovic claimed an emotional first gold medal.
His fall in ranking to seventh means this is the earliest stage at a slam they will have done battle, and there is a huge amount on the line for both men.
Djokovic is bidding to win a record-breaking 25th slam title while Alcaraz can become the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic explains why he boycotted Australian Open post-match interview
Djokovic eased into the quarter-finals after a straight-sets win over Jiri Lehecka but the Serbian then refused to take part in the traditional on-court interview
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Novak Djokovic advanced to a tantalising quarterfinal matchup with Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open. If he wins this one, I think he has a great chance to win this title as well and take his 25th grand slam win.
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Novak Djokovic receives apology from Australian TV presenter over ‘offensive’ comments
An Australian TV presenter has publicly apologised to Novak Djokovic and Serbian tennis fans after the 10-time Australian Open champion boycotted his post-match interview on Sunday.
Djokovic revealed afterwards that his decision not to answer on-court questions in the customary manner following his fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka was in protest at comments made on host broadcaster Channel 9 by Tony Jones.
Jones mocked a group of chanting Djokovic fans behind him ahead of the Serbian’s third-round match by singing: “Novak is overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out.”
Speaking at his press conference on Sunday, Djokovic said Jones had “made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me”.
He added: “Since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel 9. So, since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9.”
Jones addressed the incident ahead of the start of play on Monday, insisting he had apologised privately to Djokovic and that his remarks were meant to be humorous.
“I was made aware on the Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments,” said Jones.
“As such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them for any disrespect that Novak felt that I’d caused. I stand by that apology to Novak.
“I should also say the disrespect was extended, I guess, to the Serbian fans. We’ve built up a nice rapport with the Serbian fans, they come here with the flags and they provide so much colour and so much passion and there was banter.
"I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly that hasn’t been interpreted that way. I do feel I’ve let down the Serbian fans.
“It has been an unfortunate situation, it’s been one of personal angst for Novak, it’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well, but I just think the priority here now is to focus on the tennis again.
"He’s got an amazing match tomorrow night against Carlos Alcaraz and I hope his focus can now be on that.”
It remains to be seen whether Djokovic will change his stance should he pull off just a second grand slam victory over his young rival.
Former Wimbledon finalist Pat Rafter believes the row could play in the Serbian’s favour, saying: “I think Novak’s in a pretty good head space, he’s nice and angry. He plays his best tennis when he’s angry.”
The 37-year-old won his first slam meeting with Alcaraz in the French Open semi-finals in 2023 but the Spaniard responded a month later by winning his first Wimbledon title, and repeated the feat last summer.
Djokovic claimed another major victory in the Olympic final in their most recent meeting, though, while he has won both their previous hard-court matches.
Melbourne Park has been the most successful venue of the Serbian’s career, and he has won six titles since his last defeat in the quarter-finals 11 years ago.
Alcaraz is bidding to make it past the last eight here for the first time, and the 21-year-old said: “If I think about everything he has done in tennis, I couldn’t play.
“I mean, 24 grand slams, the most weeks at number one, everything. He almost broke every record in tennis. I’m trying not to think about that when I’m in the match. I’m just trying (to think) that I’m able to beat him.”
Djokovic started the tournament slowly but has been impressive in back-to-back victories over Czech duo Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka.
He likened taking on Alcaraz to facing his old rival Rafael Nadal, saying: “I’m expecting a big battle, as is the case in most of our matches where we faced each other.
“It reminds me of my match-ups versus Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court. He’s a very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented. Charismatic player. Great to watch – not that great to play against.
“I look forward to it. I think, when the draw was out, a lot of the people were looking forward to a potential match-up in the quarter-finals, Alcaraz versus me. So here we are.
“I think we both are hitting the ball pretty well this tournament. I like the way I’m playing and the way I’m feeling the last couple of matches. I’m excited about that challenge.”
Australian TV host apologises to Novak Djokovic over ‘offensive’ comments
Morning news host Tony Jones mocked a group of chanting Djokovic fans, leading to the 10-time Australian Open champion boycotting a post-match interview
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I admit defeat. I admit he is better than both of my tennis idols John McEnroe and Rafael Nadal. Hurts, but it's true.
P.S. Used to be a big fan of Pete Sampras as well, but not alongside my 2 heroes I mentioned.
P.S. Used to be a big fan of Pete Sampras as well, but not alongside my 2 heroes I mentioned.
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Underdog Djokovic must 'raise his game' for Alcaraz
Labelling Novak Djokovic as an underdog at the Australian Open is unfamiliar territory.
Djokovic is Melbourne's greatest men's champion after winning 10 singles titles and he remains in the hunt for a record-extending 11th triumph on Sunday.
But the 37-year-old Serb has a huge obstacle in his way to even make this year's semi-finals - Spanish third seed Carlos Alcaraz.
The pair meet in a blockbuster quarter-final at about 10:00 GMT on Tuesday.
But what seventh seed Djokovic gives away to 21-year-old Alcaraz in age and ranking is countered by his vast experience.
"Novak has been playing well but he's going to have to raise his game," said former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
"On this form, Alcaraz will win the match, but champions do raise their level and we've seen that from Djokovic time and time again."
Alcaraz outlasted Djokovic over five sets in the 2023 Wimbledon final before demolishing his out-of-sorts opponent, who had knee surgery less than six weeks before, to retain the All England Club title last year.
Djokovic avenged those losses on faster grass courts by landing Olympic gold, a high-octane performance over three sets on the slower Roland Garros clay earning him a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) win.
"Carlos is a very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented and a charismatic player," said Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slam men's titles.
"We've had some long battles, long exchange kind of matches. They remind me of my match-ups against [Rafael] Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court."
Djokovic knows he is likely to need the same intensity over five sets on the quick Melbourne surface.
The most eagerly-anticipated match of the Australian Open so far will be the first time they have played at a hard court major.
"It is not often that Djokovic is an underdog in Melbourne, it's probably been 15 years since he was," added Australian Cash.
Why Djokovic believes he can beat anyone in Melbourne
The statistics behind Djokovic's dominance at Melbourne Park speak for themselves.
As well as the record 10 titles, he has won a remarkable 98 of his 107 main-draw matches since his 2005 debut.
Djokovic, with new coach Andy Murray in his corner, dropped sets in each of his opening wins over American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy and Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.
His past two victories, against seeds Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, were completed in straight sets.
After beating Lehecka on Sunday, Djokovic said: "I wasn't thinking about Alcaraz before winning this match, which again I didn't see myself as a clear favourite.
"I'm really glad to be able to beat both Machac and Lehecka in straight sets.
"That encourages me to believe I can win against any opponent really on a good day when I'm feeling my best."
The signs that Djokovic's invincibility is waning
The feeling is Djokovic cannot outlast the very best of his younger opponents over five sets like he used to.
Jannik Sinner's comfortable victory in last year's Melbourne semi-final - ending Djokovic's 33-match winning streak spanning six years - damaged the Serb's aura of invincibility.
Sinner and Alcaraz evenly splitting the four major titles last year added further evidence that the changing of the guard was finally happening.
It was the first year since 2017 - and only the second since 2011 - that Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam.
But while many are labelling Djokovic as Tuesday's underdog, Alcaraz insists his opponent is far from past it.
"He is experienced but when we are seeing him playing he seems like he is young again, said the four-time major champion, who is aiming to become the youngest man in the Open era to win a career Grand Slam.
"It is unbelievable. He is in really good shape."
Will more controversy have an effect?
Not for the first time, Djokovic finds himself at the centre of controversy in Melbourne.
He refused to do the usual on-court interview after beating Lehecka in protest against Australian host broadcaster Channel Nine because of on-air comments made by presenter Tony Jones.
Jones called Djokovic "overrated" and a "has been" before adding "kick him out" - a reference to the player's 2022 deportation from Australia.
Jones later apologized and said it was "banter".
Djokovic insisted the row would not further "fuel his fire" but the crowd's reaction will be interesting on Tuesday.
While public opinion swelled against him in 2022, Djokovic received a warm welcome when he returned to Melbourne Park in 2023 and normally receives adoring support.
"The crowd could be tough on Djokovic," said Australian former world number one Pat Rafter.
"Alcaraz is pretty well liked and after what happened the other night with Djokovic they might react negatively.
"But Djokovic also likes confrontation."
BBC
Labelling Novak Djokovic as an underdog at the Australian Open is unfamiliar territory.
Djokovic is Melbourne's greatest men's champion after winning 10 singles titles and he remains in the hunt for a record-extending 11th triumph on Sunday.
But the 37-year-old Serb has a huge obstacle in his way to even make this year's semi-finals - Spanish third seed Carlos Alcaraz.
The pair meet in a blockbuster quarter-final at about 10:00 GMT on Tuesday.
But what seventh seed Djokovic gives away to 21-year-old Alcaraz in age and ranking is countered by his vast experience.
"Novak has been playing well but he's going to have to raise his game," said former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
"On this form, Alcaraz will win the match, but champions do raise their level and we've seen that from Djokovic time and time again."
Alcaraz outlasted Djokovic over five sets in the 2023 Wimbledon final before demolishing his out-of-sorts opponent, who had knee surgery less than six weeks before, to retain the All England Club title last year.
Djokovic avenged those losses on faster grass courts by landing Olympic gold, a high-octane performance over three sets on the slower Roland Garros clay earning him a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) win.
"Carlos is a very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented and a charismatic player," said Djokovic, who has won a record 24 Grand Slam men's titles.
"We've had some long battles, long exchange kind of matches. They remind me of my match-ups against [Rafael] Nadal in terms of the intensity and the energy on the court."
Djokovic knows he is likely to need the same intensity over five sets on the quick Melbourne surface.
The most eagerly-anticipated match of the Australian Open so far will be the first time they have played at a hard court major.
"It is not often that Djokovic is an underdog in Melbourne, it's probably been 15 years since he was," added Australian Cash.
Why Djokovic believes he can beat anyone in Melbourne
The statistics behind Djokovic's dominance at Melbourne Park speak for themselves.
As well as the record 10 titles, he has won a remarkable 98 of his 107 main-draw matches since his 2005 debut.
Djokovic, with new coach Andy Murray in his corner, dropped sets in each of his opening wins over American teenager Nishesh Basavareddy and Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.
His past two victories, against seeds Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka, were completed in straight sets.
After beating Lehecka on Sunday, Djokovic said: "I wasn't thinking about Alcaraz before winning this match, which again I didn't see myself as a clear favourite.
"I'm really glad to be able to beat both Machac and Lehecka in straight sets.
"That encourages me to believe I can win against any opponent really on a good day when I'm feeling my best."
The signs that Djokovic's invincibility is waning
The feeling is Djokovic cannot outlast the very best of his younger opponents over five sets like he used to.
Jannik Sinner's comfortable victory in last year's Melbourne semi-final - ending Djokovic's 33-match winning streak spanning six years - damaged the Serb's aura of invincibility.
Sinner and Alcaraz evenly splitting the four major titles last year added further evidence that the changing of the guard was finally happening.
It was the first year since 2017 - and only the second since 2011 - that Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam.
But while many are labelling Djokovic as Tuesday's underdog, Alcaraz insists his opponent is far from past it.
"He is experienced but when we are seeing him playing he seems like he is young again, said the four-time major champion, who is aiming to become the youngest man in the Open era to win a career Grand Slam.
"It is unbelievable. He is in really good shape."
Will more controversy have an effect?
Not for the first time, Djokovic finds himself at the centre of controversy in Melbourne.
He refused to do the usual on-court interview after beating Lehecka in protest against Australian host broadcaster Channel Nine because of on-air comments made by presenter Tony Jones.
Jones called Djokovic "overrated" and a "has been" before adding "kick him out" - a reference to the player's 2022 deportation from Australia.
Jones later apologized and said it was "banter".
Djokovic insisted the row would not further "fuel his fire" but the crowd's reaction will be interesting on Tuesday.
While public opinion swelled against him in 2022, Djokovic received a warm welcome when he returned to Melbourne Park in 2023 and normally receives adoring support.
"The crowd could be tough on Djokovic," said Australian former world number one Pat Rafter.
"Alcaraz is pretty well liked and after what happened the other night with Djokovic they might react negatively.
"But Djokovic also likes confrontation."
BBC
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He came on top against Alcaraz to win the match 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 and book his place in the semi-final where he will face number 2 seed Alexander Zverev.
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'I'm grateful he's there' - Djokovic hails coach Murray
First came a visceral roar. Then a tender hug.Novak Djokovic's emotions poured out after securing an Australian Open quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz that made a mockery of predictions, logic and expectation.
Exuding joy and relief, Djokovic turned straight to his coach Andy Murray and buried his head in the Briton's chest.
The celebration between the rivals-turned-colleagues came following the biggest success of Murray's shock first coaching job.
"It was kind of a gesture of appreciation and respect for him for the fact that he's out there and he doesn't need to be," said 37-year-old Djokovic, who was born a week after Murray in May 1987.
"He accepted to work with me. He's giving all his support to me, to the whole team, and trying to make it work."
When 24-time major champion Djokovic announced in November he was employing the recently retired Murray as his new coach, it felt like a prank.
But there is nothing more serious for both men than winning tennis matches.
Murray has regularly cut a tense figure during Djokovic's run at Melbourne Park, appearing deep in thought about how he can help the seventh seed land a record 25th Grand Slam title.
His relief at the Serb edging past Alcaraz, 21, showed with a heavy exhale of breath.
Then came the moment when Djokovic, who had battled through an upper left leg injury to beat Spanish third seed Alcaraz, trudged over to hug his fist-pumping coach.
"This was a huge win for all of us - including Andy and myself for the relationship," added Djokovic.
"That's why I went to him because I felt very grateful that he's there."
After seeing his playing career decimated by a hip injury, three-time major champion Murray finally decided to call it quits last year following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The morning after the final match of his career, the Scot seemed genuine when he said he had no firm idea of what he wanted to do next.
But Murray revealed he had the unexpected conversation with Djokovic during a phone call in his car - shortly after telling a golfing partner he had no desire to move into coaching yet.
It was a "unique opportunity" which Murray could not turn down.
Before Djokovic's quarter-final on Tuesday, Murray told BBC Sport he was enjoying the experience of what is initially a trial run in Melbourne.
"I feel more and more connected with Andy every day," said Djokovic.
"We face challenges every single day. People don't see that.
"We try to make the most out of every day and grow together.
"He's been as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be."
Source: BBC
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Injured Djokovic booed off after quitting Melbourne semi-final
Novak Djokovic was booed off court by some Australian Open fans after retiring injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic, who was bidding for a record-extending 11th title, quit after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5).
The 37-year-old Serb had his upper left leg heavily taped after injuring it in Tuesday's quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz.
After he slapped a volley into the net on set point, Djokovic immediately approached the net and shook hands with Zverev.
He waved to the crowd and gave them a double thumbs up, despite audible boos from some sections inside Rod Laver Arena.
"The very first thing I want to say is please don't boo when a player is injured," said Zverev in his on-court interview.
"I know everyone paid for tickets but Novak Djokovic is someone who has given everything to the sport.
"He has won this title with an abdominal injury, he has won this title with a hamstring injury.
"If he cannot continue a tennis match, he really cannot continue a tennis match."
German second seed Zverev is still bidding for his first Grand Slam title after twice losing in major finals.
In his first Australian Open final, he will face either Italian top seed Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton.
BBC
Novak Djokovic was booed off court by some Australian Open fans after retiring injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic, who was bidding for a record-extending 11th title, quit after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5).
The 37-year-old Serb had his upper left leg heavily taped after injuring it in Tuesday's quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz.
After he slapped a volley into the net on set point, Djokovic immediately approached the net and shook hands with Zverev.
He waved to the crowd and gave them a double thumbs up, despite audible boos from some sections inside Rod Laver Arena.
"The very first thing I want to say is please don't boo when a player is injured," said Zverev in his on-court interview.
"I know everyone paid for tickets but Novak Djokovic is someone who has given everything to the sport.
"He has won this title with an abdominal injury, he has won this title with a hamstring injury.
"If he cannot continue a tennis match, he really cannot continue a tennis match."
German second seed Zverev is still bidding for his first Grand Slam title after twice losing in major finals.
In his first Australian Open final, he will face either Italian top seed Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton.
BBC
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Djokovic unsure of Australian Open return
Novak Djokovic says he will return to the Australian Open next year if he is still "fit, healthy and motivated".
The 37-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-extending 11th men's singles title, retired injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday.
He raised both thumbs in the air towards the 15,000 fans as he left Rod Laver Arena - which he has often described as his "second home".
Asked if it might be his final appearance at Melbourne Park, Djokovic said. "I don't know. There is a chance. Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes.
"I want to keep going. But whether I'm going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I'm not sure."
It is the second successive year that Djokovic has lost in the Melbourne semi-finals.
Djokovic has stripped back his schedule in recent seasons and prioritised being ready for the biggest tournaments - namely the four Grand Slams.
The former world number one continues to seek a 25th Slam to move clear of Australia's Margaret Court, who won 24 women's singles titles between 1960 and 1973.
The Australian Open is where Djokovic has enjoyed most of Grand Slam success followed by Wimbledon, where he has won seven titles.
He has also won three French Open and four US Open titles.
"I normally like to come to Australia to play," seventh seed Djokovic added.
"I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come.
"But there's always a chance [it is the last time]."
Djokovic will 'chat' to Murray about future
Djokovic has been coached by long-time playing rival Andy Murray in Melbourne and says he does not yet know if the trial partnership will continue.
Murray, also 37, retired in August last year and joined Djokovic's team in November.
"We are both disappointed with what just happened, so we didn't talk about the future," Djokovic said.
"I'll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me.
"I'll give him my feedback, which is positive, and see how he feels and we will make the next step."
BBC
Novak Djokovic says he will return to the Australian Open next year if he is still "fit, healthy and motivated".
The 37-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-extending 11th men's singles title, retired injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday.
He raised both thumbs in the air towards the 15,000 fans as he left Rod Laver Arena - which he has often described as his "second home".
Asked if it might be his final appearance at Melbourne Park, Djokovic said. "I don't know. There is a chance. Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes.
"I want to keep going. But whether I'm going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I'm not sure."
It is the second successive year that Djokovic has lost in the Melbourne semi-finals.
Djokovic has stripped back his schedule in recent seasons and prioritised being ready for the biggest tournaments - namely the four Grand Slams.
The former world number one continues to seek a 25th Slam to move clear of Australia's Margaret Court, who won 24 women's singles titles between 1960 and 1973.
The Australian Open is where Djokovic has enjoyed most of Grand Slam success followed by Wimbledon, where he has won seven titles.
He has also won three French Open and four US Open titles.
"I normally like to come to Australia to play," seventh seed Djokovic added.
"I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come.
"But there's always a chance [it is the last time]."
Djokovic will 'chat' to Murray about future
Djokovic has been coached by long-time playing rival Andy Murray in Melbourne and says he does not yet know if the trial partnership will continue.
Murray, also 37, retired in August last year and joined Djokovic's team in November.
"We are both disappointed with what just happened, so we didn't talk about the future," Djokovic said.
"I'll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me.
"I'll give him my feedback, which is positive, and see how he feels and we will make the next step."
BBC
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Thats why Roger Federer is the GOAT.
0 retirement in his career.
Novak will never have the aura that Roger had
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Injured Djokovic pulls out of Serbia Davis Cup tie
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from Serbia's Davis Cup tie against Denmark because of a hamstring injury.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was booed off court by some Australian Open fans last week when he retired with the issue after losing the first set of his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic, 37, later posted a photo of an MRI taken of his left hamstring with the caption: "Thought I'd leave this here for all the sports injury 'experts' out there."
Serbia are playing Denmark in a first-round qualifying tie, which starts on Friday.
"We are weakened by not playing Novak, but we are still going for the win," said Serbia captain Viktor Troicki.
"The Danes have a great player in Holger Rune, but our players are also great and I believe in my team."
BBC
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from Serbia's Davis Cup tie against Denmark because of a hamstring injury.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was booed off court by some Australian Open fans last week when he retired with the issue after losing the first set of his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic, 37, later posted a photo of an MRI taken of his left hamstring with the caption: "Thought I'd leave this here for all the sports injury 'experts' out there."
Serbia are playing Denmark in a first-round qualifying tie, which starts on Friday.
"We are weakened by not playing Novak, but we are still going for the win," said Serbia captain Viktor Troicki.
"The Danes have a great player in Holger Rune, but our players are also great and I believe in my team."
BBC
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