"Father Time will catch up to him": Martina Navratilova wonders whether Novak Djokovic's time is running out

Thursday, 05 September 2024 at 17:00

Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the US Open by Alexei Popyrin and Martina Navratilova sees it as a sign that perhaps his career is heading closer to its conclusion.

Navratilova was asked about Djokovic in a Q&A for Sky Sports and said that Father Time could be catching up on him and he could yet decide to end his career.

Albeit with the caveat that a certain Margaret Court 25 Grand Slam record looms large that he will want to tackle, but it has left many including Navratilova pondering about what his future holds.

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“He got the one he really wanted, which was the Olympic gold medal, but he also still wants that 25th, because then he has one more than Margaret Court," said Navratilova on Sky Sports.

“Father Time will catch up to him… and maybe it already is a little bit, because he really wasn’t himself in that last match.

“It depends how much the fire is still burning. If it’s still burning, I’m never going to say ‘you shouldn’t play’, because he’s never going to tarnish his legacy – it’s ridiculously good.

“I’m sure his wife is saying: ‘it’s time to hang it up, how many more of these do you need?’.

“Maybe just one more… but, then again, if he wins the Australian Open, he’s going to want to play Roland Garros and Wimbledon, right? He’s not going to quit then.

“It’s up to him. Either way, you can’t criticise because what a fantastic career. I would probably hang it up but if he loves, it why not?”

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10:59 AM · Sep 5, 2024

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