Novak Djokovic sparks retirement fears with Wimbledon ‘last dance’ comments: Is this his final chance to win 25th Slam?

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Novak Djokovic has identified Wimbledon as perhaps his clearest path to making tennis history this year, and dropped a hint that it might be his last time playing at the All England Club.

Chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, the 38-year-old Serbian legend remains confident in his ability to compete at the top level and believes the pristine lawns still offer a familiar and fruitful stage for success.

Despite not winning a major since lifting the trophy at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has dismissed any suggestion that this summer’s Wimbledon campaign could be his last. Instead, he emphasized a desire to continue his storied career, health and motivation permitting.

“Whether it could be my last dance, I’m not sure,” Djokovic said ahead of his first-round matchup against France’s Alexandre Muller on Tuesday.

“My wish is to play for several more years. I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. That’s the goal, but you never know at this stage.”

Wimbledon remains Djokovic’s fortress of hope

Although Djokovic hasn’t claimed the Wimbledon title since 2022, his pedigree at the tournament is undeniable.

He has reached six consecutive finals at SW19, only falling short in the last two – both times to current champion Carlos Alcaraz. One more Wimbledon crown would put him level with Roger Federer’s record eight titles on the hallowed grass courts.

“I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance,” Djokovic admitted. “Because of the results I had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, just getting that extra push mentally and motivation to, yeah, perform the best tennis at the highest level.”

Seeded sixth – his lowest Wimbledon seeding since 2018 – Djokovic enters the tournament in an unfamiliar position: the chaser, rather than the man everyone is chasing. Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner head the draw, but Djokovic remains a threat regardless of rank.

He could face rising British star Jack Draper in a potential quarter-final showdown, while a semi-final clash with world No. 1 Sinner looms further down the road.

Djokovic reminder to his rivals

Despite some inconsistency in recent months, Djokovic has maintained a reliable level of play at the majors, reaching the semi-finals of both the Australian Open and French Open this year. His victory over Alcaraz en route to the semis in Melbourne served as a reminder of his enduring prowess on the sport’s biggest stages.

“In a sense you’re always hunting because you’re always going for the titles, the records and more history,” Djokovic reflected. “I do feel I’m always in that position of going for something with attitude of trying to win rather than trying to defend…

“I would say it’s slightly different for me now in terms of I don’t chase the rankings anymore in that regard. I’m trying to play the best tennis in Grand Slams and trying to win them. That hasn’t changed. It still stays the same.”

Djokovic acknowledged that his level has fluctuated more in the past 18 months than during his peak years, but he emphasized that Grand Slams continue to be his primary focus and motivation.

“Even though my level of tennis has been going quite up and down… Grand Slams stay quite consistent. These tournaments still give me the biggest drive. I’ll try to have a very good tournament and go as far as I can.”

Whether or not Wimbledon 2025 marks Djokovic’s final appearance, one thing is certain – he remains determined to keep making history, one swing at a time.

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