«The incredible thing is that he still wants it this much,» John McEnroe said after Novak Djokovic returned to competition following a first-round exit at the US Open, Tennis World ES reported. At 39 years old, the Serbian tennis star rebounded by capturing his seventh China Open title and the 102nd trophy of his career in Beijing, confounding expectations about the timeline of his historic career.
How Djokovic Surprised McEnron After New York
Following a grueling five-set defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the opening round of the US Open in New York, where physical struggles reignited questions about his future, Djokovic immediately returned to the ATP Tour in China. McEnroe, speaking to El Larguero, admitted he expected the 24-time Grand Slam champion to shut down his season after such a disappointing exit. Instead, the veteran entered a relatively small, best-of-three-sets event and rolled through the draw. During his run in Beijing, Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev, advanced when Daniil Medvedev was disqualified in the semifinals, and claimed the title when Alex de Minaur withdrew from the final due to injury. That victory extended his flawless record at the China Open to 34 wins and marked his first title since the start of the season. Djokovic has enjoyed of much success in the China Open throughout his career, with six titles conquered between 2009 and 2015.
Physical Toll and the Debate Over the GOAT Status
While Djokovic continues to collect milestones, analysts note mounting physical challenges as he enters the twilight of his career. According to Sport.es reporting, Djokovic showed signs of severe fatigue during the North American hard-court swing, struggling with heat and humidity in matches where his physical energy dipped early. McEnroe acknowledged that biology dictates a slowing down process, noting that at 39, most players have long passed tennis’s expiration date. Yet McEnroe also addressed the enduring debate over men’s tennis supremacy, telling interviewers that Djokovic holds undeniable claims to the title of greatest of all time alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. «Obviously, he’s an incredible player. He may be the greatest of all time; I don’t know, considering Roger and Rafa… He might be the GOAT,» McEnroe stated. McEnroe also noted during an Eurosport and HBO event that Venció a Jannik Sinner en Australia, llegó a la final y ganó el primer set contra Carlos Alcaraz y jugó bien
and added that Luego llegó a las semifinales de Wimbledon, y obtuvo una gran victoria sobre Felix Auger-Aliassime en la ronda anterior
. Pointing out physical stamina concerns, McEnroe noted that El problema, a juicio de McEnroe, no parece estar tanto en el tenis de Djokovic como en su capacidad física para sostenerlo
, while concluding about the player’s future: Que haga lo que le haga feliz
.
Chasing the Turin Finals and a Historic 25th Major
Djokovic’s immediate calendar focuses on securing his spot at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. Having dropped outside the automatic qualification spots in the Race to Turin following a second-round loss to Hubert Hurkacz at the Shanghai Masters—where Hurkacz secured his first career win against the Serb in eight attempts—Djokovic needs critical ranking points in the final weeks of the year. Industry expectations point to an appearance at the Paris Masters later this month as his next major checkpoint. Despite physical hurdles that prompted a more selective tournament schedule this year—highlighted by an Australian Open final appearance and a run to the Wimbledon semifinals—Djokovic maintains his core ambition remains capturing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
2027, Last Dance?
The possibility of 2027 marking the final season for Djokovic continues to gain momentum as biological realities set in. McEnroe acknowledged the likelihood of approaching a farewell tour, noting that the 39-year-old star refuses to stop while he still believes another major trophy is within reach.
