Before leaving the court following his semi-final loss at the French Open, Novak Djokovic paused to place his racquet bags on the clay and shared a heartfelt farewell with the Paris crowd. On Court Philippe Chatrier, he knelt to touch the clay, then placed his hand over his heart and waved, a moment that felt like a possible final goodbye for the 38-year-old champion. Whether it was a definitive farewell or simply a temporary goodbye remains uncertain.
Djokovic, a three-time French Open winner, was unable to overcome world number one Jannik Sinner, who defeated him in straight sets. The match carried heavy emotions for Djokovic, who admitted he wasn’t sure if he would return to Roland Garros again.
He described the atmosphere and crowd support as wonderful, even though the defeat ended his bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and an opportunity to become the oldest men's singles major champion.
When asked about his future in tennis, Djokovic expressed uncertainty. While he still desires to continue competing, he acknowledged that planning a year ahead is difficult at this stage in his career. “Do I wish to play more? Yes. But will I be able to play here again in 12 months? I don’t know,” he said, leaving fans wondering about the next chapter in his legendary journey.
ADD A COMMENT :