Novak Djokovic recently shared an update on his retirement plans.
Shortly after losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Djokovic admitted his retirement is ‘closer than ever’.
His comments shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, given that Djokovic is now 39, although he had previously planned to play until the 2028 Olympic Games in LA.
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The Serb’s longevity is remarkable, but are the Olympics a realistic goal, and when did his ‘big four’ rivals retire from tennis?
Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray had both retired from tennis at Novak Djokovic’s current age
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal had both retired by 39.
The Spaniard played his final match at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, calling it quits at 38.
While Murray retired at 37, after the 2024 Olympic Games.
Federer, on the other hand, hadn’t retired at 39.
He did, however, play the final ‘official’ match of his career at that age, losing to Hubert Hurkacz in the 2021 Wimbledon quarter-finals.
But he remained an active professional until the 2022 Laver Cup, where, at 41, he retired from tennis.
When the ‘big four’ retired
| Player | Age | Final match |
| Roger Federer | 41 years, 1 month, 15 days | 2022 Laver Cup – Day 1 [LOSS] |
| Novak Djokovic (Still active) | 39 years, 1 month, 27 days | – |
| Rafael Nadal | 38 years, 5 months, 16 days | 2024 Davis Cup Finals – QF [LOSS] |
| Andy Murray | 37 years, 2 months, 12 days | 2024 Paris Olympics doubles – QF [LOSS] |
To ‘outlast’ Federer, Djokovic must remain active until July 7, 2028.
The 2028 Olympic Games tennis event is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 20, and finish on Friday, July 28.
Even if Djokovic retires from tennis after losing in the first round of the Olympics, he will have overtaken Federer as the oldest member of the ‘big four’ competing on tour.
But are we actually going to see Djokovic play at the Olympics?
The Serb hasn’t won any of the last 11 Grand Slam tournaments he’s entered, and Djokovic’s chances of winning a major are only decreasing with every day that passes.
Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam results since winning the 2023 US Open
- 2024 Australian Open – Lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
- 2024 French Open – Retired before QF
- 2024 Wimbledon – Lost in F to Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024 US Open – Lost in 3R to Alexei Popyrin
- 2025 Australian Open – Lost in SF to Alexander Zverev
- 2025 French Open – Lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
- 2025 Wimbledon – Lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
- 2025 US Open – Lost in SF to Carlos Alcaraz
- 2026 Australian Open – Lost in F to Carlos Alcaraz
- 2026 French Open – Lost in 3R to Joao Fonseca
- 2026 Wimbledon – Lost in SF to Jannik Sinner
It’s hard to imagine a player who has won 24 Grand Slams will be motivated to continue if he can no longer challenge for titles.
That’s not an issue at the moment, as the 39-year-old consistently reaches the latter stages of majors; however, if he regresses further and starts missing out on the second week, perhaps that might make him reconsider his Olympic plan.
What’s next for Novak Djokovic in 2026?
Djokovic’s retirement may be ‘closer than ever’, but the chances are that he won’t call it quits this year.
The Serb has reached a Grand Slam final and a semi-final this year, looking competitive in the limited number of tournaments he’s played.
Currently sitting sixth in the ‘Live ATP Race’, Djokovic may even qualify for the year-end finals in Turin.
Live ATP Race
- 1. Jannik Sinner – 7,950 points
- 2. Alexander Zverev – 6,540 points
- 3. Carlos Alcaraz – 3,650 points
- 4. Flavio Cobolli – 3,020 points
- 5. Daniil Medvedev – 2,520 points
- 6. Novak Djokovic – 2,310 points
- 7. Felix Auger-Aliassime – 2,190 points
- 8. Alex de Minaur – 2,070 points
- 9. Ben Shelton – 2,030 points
- 10. Arthur Fils – 1,940 points
He is, however, unlikely to play another event before the US Open.
Djokovic hasn’t played the Canadian Open since 2018 and missed the Cincinnati Open in 2024 and 2025.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner is expected to play in New York, but beyond that, it’s tough to call.
In 2025, Djokovic played the Shanghai Masters, the Six Kings Slam (exhibition), and the Hellenic Championships after the US Open.
However, the Hellenic Championships won’t return in 2026 and there has been no confirmation of plans for a third Six Kings Slam event either.
So, Djokovic may choose to play Shanghai and nothing else, or he might consider adding a different event to his calendar. Only time will tell.
The 2026 US Open begins on Sunday, August 30.
