Despite producing a solid display at the Grand Slam events he has played so far this season, one tennis expert has cast doubts on Novak Djokovic’s future in the sport.
Patrick McEnroe, the brother of John McEnroe and a former top-30 player, believes the Serbian will not continue his career if he is unable to win major titles. Djokovic has reached the semi-finals at every major event this season, heading into the US Open, which marks the first time he has achieved this feat since 2023, when he won three out of four Grand Slam titles that year. However, he has only won one trophy so far in 2025, which was at an ATP 250 event in Geneva. Djokovic was also runner-up at the Miami Masters.
“I think Novak definitely needs some help [to win the U.S. Open],” Forbes quoted McEnroe as saying during an ESPN conference call earlier this week.
“I think the bigger question we may be asking ourselves by the time this tournament is done, is, will he come back? Will he be back? Because I have my doubts. I don’t think he knows. I don’t have any inside information. I don’t think he knows, but what I do know is that he’s not going to continue to play if he doesn’t think he can win. And I think time’s running out for him to win.”
Djokovic has given no indication that he plans to end his career in the near future despite being 38-years-old. He is currently the oldest player in the top 100, but Gael Monfils is also the same age as him.
Speaking to reporters at Wimbledon in July, the former world No.1 said at the time that he intends to continue playing next season.
“I would be sad, but hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court,” Djokovic said after losing to Jannik Sinner at SW19.
“I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career. So I’m planning to come back, definitely at least one more time, to play on Centre Court.”
Djokovic hasn’t played a competitive singles match since his loss to Sinner last month. Seeking his 25th Grand Slam title in New York, he will open up his campaign against America’s Learner Tien in what will be their first meeting. World No.48 Tien has an impressive 4-1 win-loss record against top-10 players since January.
Leading up to the event, Djokovic played in the revamped mixed doubles event with Olga Danilovic, but they lost in the first round. The singles tournament will begin on Sunday.
Djokovic’s season so far
Brisbane (ATP 250) – QF
Australian Open – SF (retired from the match injured)
Doha (ATP 500) – R1
Indian Wells Masters – R2
Miami masters – RU
Monte Carlo Masters – R2
Madrid Masters R2
Geneva (ATP 250) – Champion
French Open – SF
Wimbledon – SF
