Djokovic sparks retirement fears after shock French Open exit
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has sparked fresh speculation about his future after refusing to guarantee the he will return to Roland Garros following an early exit from the French Open.
Djokovic who was chasing a record extending 25th Grand Slam title of his glittering career, was unable to capitalize on what many lovers of the game considered one of his best opportunities in recent years.
With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury and world No.1 Jannik Sinner already out of the tournament, expectations were high that Djokovic could make another Deep run in Paris.
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Instead Djokovic lost dramatically in the third round of the tournament when he allowed Brazilian tennis star Joao Fonseca (19) to come back from two sets down to beat the Serbian 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in a pulsating game of tennis played under intense heat in Paris.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was asked after the match whether he expected to compete at Roland Garros again next year. His response was short but immediately grabbed attention. “I don’t know,” Djokovic said, declining to make any commitment about his future.
The remark has fueled retirement questions surrounding the 39-year-old, who has spoken in recent years about carefully managing his schedule and prioritizing the sport’s biggest events.
