PARIS — Following his semifinal loss to the highly-ranked Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic expressed uncertainty about his future participation in the French Open.
The legendary 24-time Grand Slam champion, on the brink of turning 39 next year, left fans wondering if he will grace Roland-Garros again. After a hard-fought match ending at 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3), Djokovic paused to acknowledge the roaring crowd, offering applause from all corners of Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“This might have been my last match here, so it felt particularly emotional,” Djokovic reflected. “That’s why I found myself absorbing the moment even more deeply.”
“If this truly was my farewell at Roland-Garros, I couldn’t have asked for a better send-off, surrounded by such an incredible atmosphere and support from the crowd.”
After the match, he kissed his hand and gently touched the clay, an emotional farewell to a tournament where he has claimed victory three times. With a nostalgic glance at the stands, he then made his way down the tunnel.
“Do I want to continue playing? Absolutely. But can I envision myself competing here in 12 months? That’s still uncertain,” he admitted. “I mentioned it could have been my last match, but I didn’t confirm it as such.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic confirmed his intentions to compete at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, although his plans beyond that remain undecided.
