KEY POINTS
- Djokovic hinted he may not return to the Australian Open after finals loss to Alcaraz.
- The 38-year-old remains determined to win a record 25th Grand Slam.
MELBOURNE: Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is leaving Australia with a big question mark over his future.
After losing the final on Sunday, the 38-year-old cast doubt on whether he will return to the tournament he has won ten times.
Emotional speech that sounded like goodbye
Djokovic lost the championship match to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. When he spoke to the crowd afterward, his words sounded like a possible farewell.
“Who knows what will happen in six months or a year?” he said. “It’s been a great ride.”
He also thanked the fans for their strong support during the event, which he said meant a lot to him.
He revealed he had prepared two different speeches, one for if he won and one for if he lost.
Tough road to record 25th title
Serbian star Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles, which ties him for the most in history. He has been trying to win a 25th to break the record.
However, younger players like Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner have become his biggest rivals.
Before this final, his last major final was a loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon in 2024.
In Melbourne, he showed his famous fighting spirit by beating Sinner in a very long and tough semi-final.
But he couldn’t do the same against Alcaraz two days later, losing in four sets.
What comes next?
Despite the defeat, Djokovic says he hasn’t given up on his goal. “I always believe I can win the 25th,” he said. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t still be playing.”
He has talked before about wanting to play at the 2028 Olympics.
But his emotional words in Melbourne have left fans and experts wondering if this was his last match at the Australian Open.
