According to renowned journalist Kevin Palmer of Tennis.com, the likelihood of Djokovic’s retirement increases with success at his favored Grand Slam, the Australian Open, where he has won 10 titles. Palmer, a UK journalist, stated on 25/12 that it would be a "perfect end" for Djokovic. He believes the Serbian player is seeking a final high point in his career, and Melbourne offers the best opportunity. Djokovic was the third-best player in the 2025 Grand Slam season, reaching 4 semifinals, behind champions Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic celebrates his 10th Australian Open championship at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne in 1/2023. Reuters

Nole's experience, class, and ambition at Grand Slams are always highly regarded. His primary challenge remains finding a way to overcome Sinner and Alcaraz. Even if Djokovic cannot consistently defeat these two younger players, who are currently at the peak of their careers, he can still hope for his opponents to experience poor form, injuries, or illness.

"Among the current ATP Tour top 10, Djokovic only fears Sinner and Alcaraz", Palmer analyzed. "All other players would be underestimated against Nole at a Grand Slam. Therefore, the Serbian player's chances will be very promising if his two rivals face setbacks".

In reality, Alcaraz has not consistently performed at his peak at the Australian Open and lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals earlier this year. Sinner, meanwhile, has won two consecutive titles and is expected to be the number one contender next season.

"Resilience is my greatest motivation, and I truly want to see how far I can go", Djokovic said after concluding the 2025 season. "I want to witness the evolution of tennis and be a part of that change".

Djokovic also has a further goal of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, having already won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, this is not considered his biggest ambition. The 25th Grand Slam, therefore, could be the ultimate glory Djokovic is awaiting as a farewell to tennis.

The 2026 Australian Open will run from 18/1 to 1/2 in Melbourne. The men's and women's singles champions will each receive 3.5 million USD, while the runners-up will get 1.9 million USD. The total prize money has increased by 12% compared to last year.

Vy Anh