Time for Djokovic to exit gracefully

I think a lot of people are losing their minds over this. Djokovic has been vulnerable for a while now. It’s not shocking he’d lose a match like this. BO3 especially he just doesn’t have that motivation.

Tough for him to find much motivation for anything. Maybe the AO, he’ll go for it still. We shouldn’t expect a Sampras-like retirement, on top. He’ll retire like Nadal/Federer. Desperately holding on until the wheels finally fall off. And I’m cool with that, Novak has given this sport so much and some. Nothing else to do but ride the wave!
 
McLovin said:
Conversely, for me, I despise his game so much that I missed watching tons of major finals. I’ll be happy to see him retire.

But, tbh, I was also happy to see Fed & Nadal retire. I’ve been bored with all of them for a few years now. Looking forward to what the you guys can do.
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I apologize for my retort, but this disdain and falling out of love seem rather peculiar, especially coming from a McLovin.
 
Fabresque said:
I think a lot of people are losing their minds over this. Djokovic has been vulnerable for a while now. It’s not shocking he’d lose a match like this. BO3 especially he just doesn’t have that motivation.

Tough for him to find much motivation for anything. Maybe the AO, he’ll go for it still. We shouldn’t expect a Sampras-like retirement, on top. He’ll retire like Nadal/Federer. Desperately holding on until the wheels finally fall off. And I’m cool with that, Novak has given this sport so much and some. Nothing else to do but ride the wave!
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You are right. It's not shocking anymore.

Last year it was. Now it's routine loss.
 
Yea probably time to call it a day. How quick his decline hit was what was most surprising to me . Look at the his US open and year end title 2023 form compared to his early 2024 form. I’ve never seen such a rapid decline in history. Nothing that fast. It’s like he forgot how to play winning tennis in the span of 2 months. Olympics was the only place he showed glimpses of how he used to be

If we are just going to get another 2024 year from Djoker it’s time to retire.

Not sure why in the heck he’s sticking around anyways. It’s not like he has anything left to do. Nor. Does he have to worry about anyone surpassing his records unless sinner or Carlos goes nuts for the next 10 years. Which is very doubtful as both guys will most likely suffer injury setbacks ther details their chances
 
nolefam_2024 said:
You are right. It's not shocking anymore.

Last year it was. Now it's routine loss.
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No need to be down friend. It’s 2025. Nobody expected him to play past 2017, yet here we are. I’m just enjoying what little time we have left to enjoy him. I’m under the assumption either this year or next is the retirement year.
 
Fabresque said:
No need to be down friend. It’s 2025. Nobody expected him to play past 2017, yet here we are. I’m just enjoying what little time we have left to enjoy him. I’m under the assumption either this year or next is the retirement year.
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I am assuming he will play full 2025 and retire in 2026.
 
I still don’t know why he fired his whole entourage including agents, physios, coaches etc from mid-2023 onwards. Did his new agent suggest he didn’t need any of them and could save money? Or did he have so much ennui after his wildly successful Slam years in 2021-2023 where he thought he could do it all on his own? If he stopped caring about winning and working hard in practice, then why keep traveling around the world taking losses. I guess he is too prideful at this stage to hire any of his old team members back although I don’t know if it will bring back the magic.

What is clear is that he is playing a very vanilla gameplan in all his matches and his serving caliber is way down compared to 2023 and the two years before that. It was fun in those years to watch what gameplan he would have for different opponents while often attacking their strength early and being aggressive. Now it almost seems like he has gone back to his 2012-2014 passive days when he thought he would just outlast everyone, but ended up losing 6 Slam finals during that period - he started winning Slams at a high rate again only after hiring Becker. He is too old now to just outlast players over two weeks and win big titles - he needs the serving level and aggressive shot quality from 2023 when he was #1 in FH quality, #1 in BH quality and top 3 on the serve and return leaderboards all year long. He won by outhitting and outserving his biggest rivals and if he can’t regain that game or that mindset, he will go down in flames this year too and it is just a matter of time before he retires.

However, I still don’t understand why his game and style just changed almost overnight between the end of the 2023 season and the start of 2024 - maybe his team was pushing him to practice and play aggressively more than the credit any of his fans gave them and without them, he is struggling to get out of his more passive comfort zone which might be his base nature unless pushed by strong coaches. I don’t believe that he just lost his motivation as some say - if so, what is compelling him to travel around the world and keep playing just to endure losses?
 
socallefty said:
I still don’t know why he fired his whole entourage including agents, physios, coaches etc from mid-2023 onwards. Did his new agent suggest he didn’t need any of them and could save money? Or did he have so much ennui after his wildly successful Slam years in 2021-2023 where he thought he could do it all on his own? If he stopped caring about winning and working hard in practice, then why keep traveling around the world taking losses. I guess he is too prideful at this stage to hire any of his old team members back although I don’t know if it will bring back the magic.

What is clear is that he is playing a very vanilla gameplan in all his matches and his serving caliber is way down compared to 2023 and the two years before that. It was fun in those years to watch what gameplan he would have for different opponents while often attacking their strength early and being aggressive. Now it almost seems like he has gone back to his 2012-2014 passive days when he thought he would just outlast everyone, but ended up losing 6 Slam finals during that period - he started winning Slams at a high rate again only after hiring Becker. He is too old now to just outlast players over two weeks and win big titles - he needs the serving level and aggressive shot quality from 2023 when he was #1 in FH quality, #1 in BH quality and top 3 on the serve and return leaderboards all year long. He won by outhitting and outserving his biggest rivals and if he can’t regain that game or that mindset, he will go down in flames this year too and it is just a matter of time before he retires.

However, I still don’t understand why his game and style just changed almost overnight between the end of the 2023 season and the start of 2024 - maybe his team was pushing him to practice and play aggressively more than the credit any of his fans gave them and without them, he is struggling to get out of his more passive comfort zone which might be his base nature unless pushed by strong coaches. I don’t believe that he just lost his motivation as some say - if so, what is compelling him to travel around the world and keep playing just to endure losses?
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Because it was Olympic year and he did not need any non Serbian telling him to focus on the tour.

Out the door anyone who says otherwise including goran. Only one goal, Olympic gold.
 
nolefam_2024 said:
Because it was Olympic year and he did not need any non Serbian telling him to focus on the tour.

Out the door anyone who says otherwise including goran. Only one goal, Olympic gold.
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In other words, he couldn't hack it at the real tournaments so he had to focus on the Olympics. Bwaaahhhaaaaaaa........haaaahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhaaahhahaaahaaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaaa............
 
Djokovic of 2025 will be like Federer of 2019. Near the end of his career, probably the last full time year. Not winning any tour titles last year was not a coincidence, granted he was stopped by Alcaraz and Sinner.
 
Let us hope luck is as usual on Novak's side like usual. We dont want him to play a RF like Wimb 2019 Final and end up on the losing side.
 
socallefty said:
How about this article here of Djokovic hitting 50% more FH winners than Nadal head-head after 2009? Also Djokovic stood aggressively near the baseline, took balls on the rise and changed angles at will to take time away from his opponents. Nadal stood 15 feet behind the baseline and hit heavy spin to safe targets till he got a short ball. If you have watched them live as I have in about 25 tournaments, there is no debate on who played an aggressive style.
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so i guess you don’t agree with me and Steve Johnson
 
socallefty said:
But could be right after you hire a coach who goes skiing while you are trying to prep for the AO or after you clown around with Kyrgios in doubles as part of your AO prep. That is not how he prepped when he won his AOs.
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It's not Andy's fault. Pam Shriver saw him yelling at Novak and wouldn’t let him coach this week
 
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MichaelNadal said:
Nah he needs to stay and take some beautiful L's 8-B
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Why at this stage? Even as fans of other rival players, seeing Djokovic lose isnt the pleasurable experience it was when he was at his best or close to it. He is now a bang average journeyman player so him losing is never now a surprise as he is close to 40. I never understood the delight Djokovic fans took in Nadal losses post FO 2022 when it was clear he was washed up due to the foot and then other issues. There comes a point when ATGs become so far removed from what they were that their losses become almost insignificant.
 
AO13 said:
Lol I watched the highlights, Opelka had some GOAT level returns. All in all, he might have played the best match of his life.

That being said, I'm fine with Novak. From this three matches I've seen the fire in his eyes he lacked in 2024 (outside RG and Olympics).

Looking forward to 2025, this is going to be a fun year for Novak's fans, probably it will be his last stand.​
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Oh, it absolutely was his best match ever. I couldn’t believe the rallies that he was actually winning against Djokovic lol.

Nothing to worry about for Djokovic really – this was a player playing his absolute best game who would beat many, many different players playing like that.
 
Looks like Sampras is the only one who will retire with a bang The big 3 retire with a whimper. I wish one of them would have retired with a big win. Djoker should have retired after the Olympics. The perfect way to go out. Winning the only missing crown that eluded him his entire career. It’s sad. Fed retires getting bageled at Wimbledon, Nadal retires losing on clay in first round and now Djoker with this losing to bums
 
chjtennis said:
Djokovic of 2025 will be like Federer of 2019. Near the end of his career, probably the last full time year. Not winning any tour titles last year was not a coincidence, granted he was stopped by Alcaraz and Sinner.
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I don’t know about that – Federer actually had an amazing year that year with nearly a 1.4 dominance ratio in winning 55% of his points. He outplayed two younger goats and should’ve won Wimbledon.

Also, I know people won’t like to hear it, but Federer at 37 have the entire stadium, no matter where he played completely behind him and cheering for him. The crowd in Brisbane was cheering for Opelka.
 
That was a common problem in many of Djokovic’s losses last year. His opponents were playing carefree without fear of his aura and were not bothered by his current game level at all. He is not going to scare anyone unless he serves and hits his FH like he did in 2023.

ghostofMecir said:
Nothing to worry about for Djokovic really – this was a player playing his absolute best game
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Djokovic looks really good to me. Probably the best he has looked since 2019.

The loss to Opelka is surprising on the face of it, but watching the match, the way Opelka played last night I don’t think even 2006 Federer, or 2008 Nadal would have stopped him. The guy was just zoning.

The field is too strong for Djokovic to win majors now, but there’s nothing to stop him really going on a tear at the m1000 and atp500 events. I think Novak is still in the top 3-4 guys in the world in Bo3, particularly on clay.
 
Subway Tennis said:
Djokovic looks really good to me. Probably the best he has looked since 2019.

The loss to Opelka is surprising on the face of it, but watching the match, the way Opelka played last night I don’t think even 2006 Federer, or 2008 Nadal would have stopped him. The guy was just zoning.

The field is too strong for Djokovic to win majors now, but there’s nothing to stop him really going on a tear at the m1000 and atp500 events. I think Novak is still in the top 3-4 guys in the world in Bo3, particularly on clay.
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This is not true at all. He looks good but nowhere near his 2020 self.
 
nolefam_2024 said:
This is not true at all. He looks good but nowhere near his 2020 self.
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Fair. Have to agree to disagree on this. Last night his return position was poor, but Big servers with a great ground game have always bothered Novak and I think the matchup threw his radar out.

Or are you saying he has looked bad in other matches as well so far in 2025?
 
Subway Tennis said:
Fair. Have to agree to disagree on this. Last night his return position was poor, but Big servers with a great ground game have always bothered Novak and I think the matchup threw his radar out.

Or are you saying he has looked bad in other matches as well so far in 2025?
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He in 2020 would not quit after losing a set.

The stats are as clear as day.

In 2023 until ATP finals he was 8-4 after losing set 1 and since then he is 2-9.

Even Olympics Djokovic never lost the lead or who knows. Djokovic is old man now. He is playing tactics to stay in like Nadal 2022. He is not at all the world beater he was in 2020.

Remember how he toughed out matches in 2020. 26-0 until US open dq and then 12 straight wins. Went down looked out and came back. Like the heavyweight champion he was.
 
nolefam_2024 said:
He in 2020 would not quit after losing a set.

The stats are as clear as day.

In 2023 until ATP finals he was 8-4 after losing set 1 and since then he is 2-9.

Even Olympics Djokovic never lost the lead or who knows. Djokovic is old man now. He is playing tactics to stay in like Nadal 2022. He is not at all the world beater he was in 2020.

Remember how he toughed out matches in 2020. 26-0 until US open dq and then 12 straight wins. Went down looked out and came back. Like the heavyweight champion he was.
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I never saw you like this, man up, please.
 
nolefam_2024 said:
He in 2020 would not quit after losing a set.

The stats are as clear as day.

In 2023 until ATP finals he was 8-4 after losing set 1 and since then he is 2-9.

Even Olympics Djokovic never lost the lead or who knows. Djokovic is old man now. He is playing tactics to stay in like Nadal 2022. He is not at all the world beater he was in 2020.

Remember how he toughed out matches in 2020. 26-0 until US open dq and then 12 straight wins. Went down looked out and came back. Like the heavyweight champion he was.
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Fair. I think the old man might still have surprises in store for his fans.

The biggest thing this week was that he had to deal with the Kyrgios circus all week. It was a nice gesture for him to do it, and now that distraction is in the rear view.

The field is too strong for him to win a major now, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a run to the quarters at AO and be a threat at all of the clay and North American us open series masters.
 
messiahrobins said:
Why at this stage? Even as fans of other rival players, seeing Djokovic lose isnt the pleasurable experience it was when he was at his best or close to it. He is now a bang average journeyman player so him losing is never now a surprise as he is close to 40. I never understood the delight Djokovic fans took in Nadal losses post FO 2022 when it was clear he was washed up due to the foot and then other issues. There comes a point when ATGs become so far removed from what they were that their losses become almost insignificant.
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Bc I don't watch his matches lol so it's not like I'm "seeing" him lose. All I know is he's around and playing and I want him to fail :D an L is good for business bc he shouldn't even still be on tour.
 
Subway Tennis said:
Fair. I think the old man might still have surprises in store for his fans.

The biggest thing this week was that he had to deal with the Kyrgios circus all week. It was a nice gesture for him to do it, and now that distraction is in the rear view.

The field is too strong for him to win a major now, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a run to the quarters at AO and be a threat at all of the clay and North American us open series masters.
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That's what we are all waiting for. Surprises. Not actual dominances.

Djokovic 2020 would absolutely have been a dominant guy. In mix with sineraz.
 
tennis3 said:

I've got a little bit left, I know
That I can give a little bit, ah
I've got a little bit left, I know
That I can give a little bit, ah

It's starting all over again
I feel my heart beat quickening
Anachronistic, a young mystic
He's prowling around in the night
Under a shadow wherever we go
Whatever I need to survive

We go down down to the deep void
Right back into place, I can breathe again
We go down down to the beat boy
Right back into place
From where we are, we're never gonna come back
From where we are, we're never gonna come back

I am ecstatic like a hymn
In that the feeling's disciplined
Apocalyptic, my own mystic
I'm moving right into the end
Under a shadow wherever we go
Our features again and again

We go down down to the deep void
Right back into place, I can breathe again
We go down down to the beat boy
Right back into place
From where we are, we're never gonna come back
From where we are, we're never gonna come back

I've got a little bit left, I know
That I can give a little bit, ah
I've got a little bit left, I know that I can give a little bit, ah

We could die tonight
We could die tonight
Oh my god I feel like I'm dying
Die tonight, we could die tonight
Oh my god I feel like I'm dying

From where we are, we're never gonna come back
From where we are, we're never gonna come back
From where we are, we're never gonna come back
From where we are, we're never gonna come back
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great song
 
nolefam_2024 said:
That's what we are all waiting for. Surprises. Not actual dominances.

Djokovic 2020 would absolutely have been a dominant guy. In mix with sineraz.
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Oh okay. Yes, being completed dominant is outside the question because he can’t win majors. But in Bo3 he has a chance to make headway in his matchup with Alcaraz. He could also challenge Sinner in Bo3 on clay.
 
MichaelNadal said:
Bc I don't watch his matches lol so it's not like I'm "seeing" him lose. All I know is he's around and playing and I want him to fail :D an L is good for business bc he shouldn't even still be on tour.
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Agree with this. It’s better for the tour and the reputation of the young guys playing now if they are seen to be overthrowing Djokovic, rather than just waiting for him to flame out.
 
Subway Tennis said:
I don’t think he’d beat Sincaraz. These guys are maniacs. I really hope Sincaraz get to 1/2 soon so they are not ending up in the same side of the draw as each other in majors.
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That's your opinion. Completely disagree. Go to tennis abstract and check their stats. Every single year. 2020/2021/2022/2023.

Djokovic is just the GOAT.
 
TheGoldenEra1990’s said:
Looks like Sampras is the only one who will retire with a bang
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i don’t even think it can be given to him considering he had no intention of retiring to the point where Wilson made a new racket for him and he didn’t decide until 9 months later..

Most people don’t get borgs story straight either. they think he retired after the ‘81 USO but it was actually in Jan ‘83
 
nolefam_2024 said:
That's your opinion. Completely disagree. Go to tennis abstract and check their stats. Every single year. 2020/2021/2022/2023.

Djokovic is just the GOAT.
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Nothing will ever beat the carnage of the pandemic era. It was an absolute vacuum and Novak really feasted. Hard to see tennis field ever thinning out that much again, though, except on grass. Young people just aren’t committed to learning the surface thoroughly enough and don’t take the ball early enough.
 
Subway Tennis said:
Nothing will ever beat the carnage of the pandemic era. It was an absolute vacuum and Novak really feasted. Hard to see tennis field ever thinning out that much again, though, except on grass. Young people just aren’t committed to learning the surface thoroughly enough and don’t take the ball early enough.
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That's your opinion. Nole has all the numbers to back it up. Not even tiny Raz has them.
 
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