Chris Evert believes that if Novak Djokovic
captures the next US Open, he might decide to 'leave the game.' The Serbian
24-time Grand Slam champion has insisted that he still has the motivation and
fuel to play for a few more years, despite not having much left to achieve.
Winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games was
the last accomplishment missing from his tennis career. Djokovic has won every
Grand Slam at least three times and every Masters 1000 at least twice, in
addition to holding the absolute record for weeks as No. 1 with 428, far ahead
of second place Roger Federer (310 weeks).
Currently, Djokovic is the male player with the
most Grand Slam titles, but he remains tied with Margaret Court, although most
of the Australian's titles were won before the Open Era: “I think if he wins
the 25th major, I would think he would leave the game. I mean, I don’t know, he
would break that tie with Margaret Court. He’s won the Olympics,” Chris Evert
said.
“That was such a big goal for him, winning the
Olympics. As far as winning the US Open, does the 25th mean as much? Can he get
that energy going as much as he got in the Olympics?” she added.
“He’s going to come up against, again, some
really tough competition. Can he do it two times in a row, the Olympics and the
US Open? I would allow him to retire after that, I would say ‘Okay, you have
everybody in the world’s permission to retire (laughter).’
Read also
“That would be epic if he could do that. But
he’s a driven person. He’s a very driven person beyond anybody that I’ve ever
seen. He’s had a lot of ups and downs in his life, in his marriage, in his
personal relationships, I think, because of being so driven,” the 18-time Grand
Slam champion added. “He also has worked everything out. He’s a communicator
and he works things out. He seems to be in the best place he’s been in a long
time right now.”
Chris Evert highlighted Djokovic's ability to
secure the much-coveted gold medal after an irregular season and evident
physical problems that forced him to undergo surgery less than two months
prior: “I think it would be like Herculean if he wins this tournament and gets
to 25. I mean, I think hands down he would have to be the greatest player ever,
male player ever. I think he already is in a lot of people’s minds,” the
American said.
Read also
“I just think for him even to have won the
Olympics, after what he went through with the surgery, with seemingly Alcaraz
starting to take over, starting to get his number as he did at Wimbledon, for
him to come back and find that resilience and find that level of tennis, that
actually we haven’t seen the whole year, because he hasn’t won a tournament the
whole year, it was like a fairy tale.
“I wouldn’t have expected it. It was a fairy
tale. But you know what? I believe in karma. This guy has worked his butt off
his whole life, put up with a lot from the press and from being kind of the bad
guy with Federer and Nadal. He deserves it. He deserves it all.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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