"Starting to get Sampras 2002 vibes": Tennis commentator predicts Novak Djokovic's retirement date

Monday, 13 May 2024 at 12:58

Serbia’s tennis legendary Novak Djokovic star suffered another shocking result in Rome Open. The 36-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic is having a tough 2024 season where he is yet to play in the final of any event. That streak continued in Rome where he suffered a shocking exit after losing to Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in the round of 32 of the mega-event in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-3.

Former tennis player and now a commentator Mark Petchey, in a post on his official account on the social media platform, stated that watching Djokovic is giving him similar vide to that of Pete Sampras back in 2002.

“Anyone else getting a Paris Olympics massive push for the one thing Novak doesn’t have and then Au Revoir to tennis? Starting to get Sampras 2002 vibes. Still have him in the favourite category for RG and Wimbledon but to be this great for so long takes incredible sacrifice,” he wrote. Interestingly, Sampras went on to win the US Open in 2002 which also proved to be the last mega-event she participated in.

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Mark Petchey

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Anyone else getting a Paris Olympics massive push for the one thing Novak doesn’t have and then Au Revoir to tennis? Starting to get Sampras 2002 vibes. Still have him in the favourite category for RG and Wimbledon but to be this great for so long takes incredible sacrifice.

6:52 PM · May 12, 2024

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Azeem Siddiqui

Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.

He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.

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Join the debate: is Djokovic's downfall linked to off-court incident?

(VIDEO) Protestors disrupt multiple matches at Rome Open with confetti scattered on court