Novak Djokovic is currently chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open Grand Slam title in Melbourne, and is set to face Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round on Sunday. The Serbian ace also is aiming to clinch a record-extending 24th Grand Slam men’s singles title.
He is already 37-years-old, and is the only one remaining from the ‘Big Three’, with Rafael Nadal announcing his retirement last year. Meanwhile, even rival Andy Murray retired after the Paris Olympics 2024, and has joined his coaching staff.
He hasn’t dropped any retirement hints yet, and looks set to continue for at least two more seasons, considering his mental and physical strength. But according to his wife Jelena, Novak was about to end his career seven years ago, and it took days to convince him to take a u-turn from his decision.
In an interview with In Depth, she revealed that after his shock loss to Benoit Paire in the first round of the 2018 Miami Open, Djokovic had given up, and had decided to retire. “He just gathered all of us and said, ‘you know guys, I’m done’,” she said.
