As Novak Djokovic departed Court Philippe-Chatrier after his defeat to World No 1 Jannik Sinner in the French Open semi-finals, the 38-year-old stooped to lower his bags before turning to all four sides of the stadium. In a moment not dissimilar to Rafael Nadal’s final exit from Roland Garros in 2024, Djokovic paused and applauded the reception he had received. He then stopped again to brush the clay with his hand, an intimate gesture that may have revealed a clue to his future.
“This could have been the last match I played here, so I don't know,” Djokovic said. “That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end. But if this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.”
