“How many more?”: Daria Saville claims Novak Djokovic facing similar press crush as Serena Williams did towards career end

Daria Saville has highlighted that Novak Djokovic is facing similar questions about retirement, which bothered Serena Williams. The 38-year-old has often discussed his future in different press conferences.

Djokovic’s most recent appearance was at the French Open, where he was knocked out after losing in the semifinal to Jannik Sinner in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-5, 7-6. While talking to the media after the match, Djokovic admitted that it might have been the last time he played in the competition where he lifted the title three times.

"I mean, this could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know," he said. "That's why I was a bit more emotional, even in the end. But if this was the farewell match of the Roland-Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd. Not long, you know, I don't know. I don't know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career. You know, I'm going to keep on keeping on, yes.”

Saville recently appeared on the Australian Open official YouTube channel podcast, where she emphasised that Djokovic is now facing something similar to what Serena faced during her final playing days. The 31-year-old also highlighted that, as a player, it is not easy to know when the right time is to retire.

“It’s pretty hard going to every press [conference] and hearing people asking him the same questions. How much longer? How many more?” she said. “That’s what people did to Serena [Williams]. The funny thing as a player is I don’t think you know yourself. I kind of feel that he’ll be there, I don’t think that’s how he’d want to go out. I think he doesn’t know where his body is. He’s just unsure, but I don’t think he’s there. It would be hard to know, how the hell do you even retire? My favorite retirement was Ash [Barty], that was pretty cool.”