Novak Djokovic “does not know” if it will be the last time he has played Melbourne, but he “wants to continue”

After his injury having forced him to abandon in the semi-finals on Friday in Melbourne, the Serbian left doubt about a possible end of career, when he is 37 years old.

He still had two mountains to climb to try to lift a 25th historical title of the Grand Chelem. But the road to access it was too hard. Novak Djokovic was forced to abandon in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Friday, January 24, against the world number 2 Alexander Zverev. Victim of a thigh muscle tear, the Serb could not continue the match beyond the first set, sold to the decisive game (7/5).

If he said he was satisfied to have “Very well played [à Melbourne]as well as these last twelve months, to be honest “, He recognized that this “very good result given the circumstances (…) is not satisfactory for me, you know, for my standards. I am always looking for the highest goal, reach the final and fight for a trophy “he recalled at a press conference.

Asked about a possible last match in Australia, and therefore a next end of career, Novak Djokovic did not close the door to this option. “There is a chance. Who knows? I'm going to see how the season goes. I want to continue, he nuanced. (…) I like to come and play in Australia. This is where I had the most success in my career. If I am in good shape, in good health and motivated, I do not see why I would not come. But there is always a chance [que je ne sois pas là].”

As for his recent association with Andy Murray, a few weeks before the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic has not yet been. “We were both disappointed what had just happened, so we did not talk about the future. (…) I will give it my opinion, which is of course positive, and I will see what He feels before going to the next stage “, he replied. This is the eighth time in career that the former world number 1, a player who has played the most Grand Slam games, abandons in an adult.

At 37, the Serbian is in search of a 25th Grand Slam cork, which would allow him to go beyond the Australian Margaret short (24 titles) to become the most titled in history, men and women together.