By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennisnow | Monday, January 27, 2025
Photo Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty
Novak Djokovic Goodbye to fans walking out Rod Laver Arena after retiring from Australian semifinal Open.
Grand Slam King has not bid his latest farewell to Melbourne, says Australian tour Open director Craig Tily.
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Meeting the media in Melbourne the day after Jannik sinful neat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to successfully defend Australian Open, Tily was asked to appreciate AO’s future of Gjokovic.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar suffered a tear of muscle on his left leg that forced his retirement from AO’s semifinal after throwing his first set in Zverev, 7-6.
Tily is sure that the champion 10 times Ao Djokovic will return to Melbourne park in 2026.
“There were some conversations about Novak (not returning to AO) – Novak will come back,” Tily told the media on Monday. “He leaves today and he is with his family, his team left on Friday.
“We will see Novak again and look forward to reaching it in the next two weeks.”
Asked directly if his semifinal pension was his latest AO match, Gjokovic said if he is healthy, he definitely wants to return in 2026, but admitted that it is possible that he played his last match in Melbourne Park .
“I don’t know. There’s a chance. Who knows?” Gjokovic said in his semifinal oppressor after the match. “I just will have to see how the season goes. I want to continue.
“But if I have a revised schedule or not for next year, I’m not sure. I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So if I I’m capable, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come.
Tiley tour director defended Djokovic’s pension by saying that the 24-time Grand Slam champion did everything in his power to compete.
“He had a good heat that morning and his team was sure he would be able to get there and play,” Tily told the media. “I haven’t met a player who makes so much preparation and has a great focus on him as Novak does, and he would do whatever he could to take in court.”
