Will this be the final slam final or semi-final (in singles) of Djokovic's career?

[helterskelter]

He's now older even than Federer was when Federer last made a slam final at Wimbledon 2019 (38 years, 8 months versus 37 years, 11 months) and even than when Federer last made a slam semi-final at Australian Open 2020 (38 years, 8 months versus 38 years, 5 months). Note that neither of these things was true prior to this tournament. He's the oldest slam semi-finalist in men's singles since Connors at the 1991 US Open (Connors was 39 years and 5 days) and the oldest slam finalist since Rosewall at the 1974 US Open (Rosewall was 39 years and 10 months). If he makes the semi-finals of any future slam, he will be the oldest semi-finalist since Connors, but he would overtake Rosewall only if he made the final of the 2027 Roland Garros or some future slam.

In women's singles, too, nobody has made a final when as old as Djokovic is now in half a century. Again, this wasn't true before this event, as Navratilova made the 1994 Wimbledon final aged 37 years, 8 months (about six months older than Djokovic was at the time of Wimbledon 2024), and Serena Williams made the 2019 US Open final aged 37 years, 11 months. Serena was older than Djokovic is now when she made her final slam semi-final at the 2021 Australian Open aged 39 years, 4 months, and Djokovic cannot surpass that until the 2027 Australian Open.

So, Djokovic is in historical territory. If he makes the final of any future slam, he will be the first 39-year-old finalist in either men's or women's singles in more than 50 years. If he makes the semi-finals of any future slam, he will be the first 39-year-old semi-finalist in men's singles in almost 35 years and older than the last 39-year-old semi-finalist. Can he do it?

My prediction is that he will make at least one more semi-final but will not make any future finals.

 

[Fedcraz]

Novak will make the RG final if he plays sinner in the semis

 

[DSH]

He's now older even than Federer was when Federer last made a slam final at Wimbledon 2019 (38 years, 8 months versus 37 years, 11 months) and even than when Federer last made a slam semi-final at Australian Open 2020 (38 years, 8 months versus 38 years, 5 months). Note that neither of these things was true prior to this tournament. He's the oldest slam semi-finalist in men's singles since Connors at the 1991 US Open (Connors was 39 years and 5 days) and the oldest slam finalist since Rosewall at the 1974 US Open (Rosewall was 39 years and 2 months). If he makes the semi-finals of any future slam, he will be the oldest semi-finalist since Connors, but he would overtake Rosewall only if he made the final of the 2026 US Open or some future slam. [On the day of the 2026 Wimbledon final, he will be 39 years, 1 month, and 20 days, and will thus be about 10 days younger than Rosewall was on the day of the 1974 US Open final].

In women's singles, too, nobody has made a final when as old as Djokovic is now in half a century. Again, this wasn't true before this event, as Navratilova made the 1994 Wimbledon final aged 37 years, 8 months (about six months older than Djokovic was at the time of Wimbledon 2024), and Serena Williams made the 2019 US Open final aged 37 years, 11 months. Serena was older than Djokovic is now when she made her final slam semi-final at the 2021 Australian Open aged 39 years, 4 months, and Djokovic cannot surpass that until the 2027 Australian Open.

So, Djokovic is in historical territory. If he makes the final of any future slam, he will be the first 39-year-old finalist in either men's or women's singles in more than 50 years. If he makes the semi-finals of any future slam, he will be the first 39-year-old semi-finalist in men's singles in almost 35 years and older than the last 39-year-old semi-finalist. Can he do it?

My prediction is that he will make at least one more semi-final but will not make any future finals.

That's incorrect.
Rosewall was 39 years, 10 months and 6 days old when he was a finalist at the 1974 US Open.

 

[helterskelter]

That's incorrect.
Rosewall was 39 years, 10 months and 6 days old when he was a finalist at the 1974 US Open.

You're right. I switched the November 1974 and September 1974 facts around in my head, which is why I said 39 and 2 months. I've edited the relevant parts of the OP. Thanks for pointing it out!