Nadal’s farewell as a turning point: Now the big guesswork about Novak Djokovic begins

Nadal’s farewell as a turning point
Now the big guesswork about Novak Djokovic begins

October 11, 2024, 4:08 p.m

Rafael Nadal abdicates, of the “Big Three” only Novak Djokovic continues to play – but for how long? The Serb is keeping it open and wants to decide spontaneously. Top tennis is facing a turning point.

Novak Djokovic has marked a date in his calendar for mid-November: The Grand Slam record champion will definitely travel to the Davis Cup finals in Malaga, Spain – even though Serbia does not qualify. “I will be there in person to pay respect to your outstanding career,” the 37-year-old wrote to Rafael Nadal. The end of the Spanish top star’s career is a noticeable turning point.

For Djokovic, who repeatedly pushed the boundaries in the legendary duels with his worst opponent. And for tennis as a whole, which is losing the next big figurehead after Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Of course, Nadal was no longer one of the title candidates due to injury and a new rivalry has broken out in men’s tennis between the spectacular Carlos Alcaraz and the world number one Jannik Sinner – this year he is sharing all four slams among himself and regularly delights his fans around the globe.

However, if there were to be a doping penalty against sinners, it would be a serious blow for the product of world-class tennis. Because the peak is currently not that wide. Nadal will be missed from the scene with his demeanor and his aura, the “Big Three” are now merging into a “Big One”, Djokovic, who is still pursuing final goals in his unique career. The exceptional talent from Belgrade is still in a position to challenge Alcaraz and Sinner. But Djokovic, who did not win a Grand Slam title in 2024 for the first time in seven years, also raised doubts with his recent statements that he will continue to play at the highest level for a long time.

Is the fire no longer burning?

“Usually in my career I have drawn up my schedule six months in advance, but that is no longer the case today,” said Djokovic on the sidelines of the Masters in Shanghai: “Now it is more spontaneous.” He has to be physically, emotionally and mentally fit feel to be able to attack. Djokovic has to be passionate about his goals – that hasn’t always been the case recently.

This year, the former tour dominator fulfilled his big dream of Olympic gold. Djokovic was also chasing a 25th Grand Slam triumph that would see him leave Australia’s Margaret Court behind. And he is currently ten shy of the record of 109 tournament wins, which belonged to the American Jimmy Connors. With a view to his possible 100th title win, he is currently feeling “extra motivation” in Shanghai. The ATP annual final in Turin, on the other hand, hardly triggers anything in Djokovic. “What I care about, so I’m done with these tournaments in my career,” he said. He would rather watch Nadal one last time.