Could retirement be closer than expected for Novak Djokovic? Hints at 'surprising decisions' after Australian Open loss

Novak Djokovic hinted at the possibility of making 'surprising decisions' following his exit from the 2024 Australian Open in the semifinals against Jannik Sinner, who went on to become the tournament's champion and secure his first Grand Slam. 'Nole' had entered the competition with hopes of extending his Grand Slam record to 25 titles and widening the gap between himself and Rafa Nadal (22).

It's no secret that Djokovic strives to win every competition he enters, and among his objectives was to achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four major singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year, a feat accomplished only by Steffi Graf in history.

Djokovic's semifinal exit was particularly disheartening for the Serbian, considering that he failed to find his form throughout the match. Although he managed to claim a set, Sinner outplayed him for the majority of the encounter. During the post-match press conference, Djokovic mentioned that he might make some 'surprising decisions,' although he acknowledged that his ambitions remain intact for the rest of the season.

"I made a commitment to myself that I will give it my all this year, with the priority being Slams and the Olympics. We’ll see whether something will change, in this stage of my life and my career some surprising decisions are maybe more expected compared to twenty years ago," world No. 1 stated.

At 36 years old, it's likely that Djokovic may choose to adjust his schedule and skip some events, considering the physical demands he will face during the summer months, particularly with the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Djokovic's next major challenge will be the French Open, taking place between May 20 and June 9. Subsequently, he will have three weeks to prepare for the grass-court season and his participation in Wimbledon, scheduled from July 1 to July 14. The demands on him will be even greater as the Olympics unfold from July 27 to August 4, requiring him to return to the clay of Roland Garros.