Novak Djokovic’s shocking defeat at the hands of Alejandro Tabilo in Rome has raised questions about his future in tennis. The world No. 1 suffered a 6-2 6-3 loss to the Chilean underdog, who took just 67 minutes to secure the victory.
Djokovic attributed his poor performance to an unfortunate incident where he was struck in the head by a bottle after his previous match. The Serbian player described feeling unsteady on the court and lacking rhythm and balance in his game.
The defeat has reignited discussions about Djokovic’s motivation to continue playing tennis. His former coach Goran Ivanisevic revealed that Djokovic has been struggling with motivation, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitting that he is primarily driven by success in major tournaments.
Tennis Channel expert Mark Petchey even suggested that Djokovic may retire after this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. Winning an Olympic gold medal is the only major accolade missing from Djokovic’s illustrious career, and he has prioritized success at the upcoming Games.
Petchey’s comparison of Djokovic’s situation to the end of Pete Sampras’ career, where motivation waned after achieving major milestones, adds to the speculation surrounding Djokovic’s future in the sport. With Djokovic having achieved almost everything in tennis, the question remains whether he will continue playing after fulfilling his Olympic dream.
As Djokovic contemplates his next move, tennis fans around the world eagerly await to see if he will indeed bid farewell to the sport after the Paris Olympics, potentially marking the end of an era in men’s tennis.