In the end, the end comes for everyone. And at the end, the end can be brutal; not a heroic rage against the passing of time and dying of the light, but in tears, doubling over with a cramp, and vomiting in the punishing New York humidity. Novak Djokovic was not just left facing the question of how long he has left to fight after his first-round exit from the US Open on Sunday night, but how many more times he could stomach the difficult scenes that accompanied his five-set defeat to Mariano Navone. “I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court,” the 39-year-old said.
Djokovic has previously stated that he wants to keep playing until the LA Olympics in 2028, where he will compete under Serbia’s flag for one last time. The dream of a record 25th grand slam title and the thrill of competition is what keeps his fight alive. It was only in January that Djokovic produced one of the greatest performances of his career in defeating Jannik Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, a night that vindicated his belief and continued pursuit. It is an achievement that looks all the more remarkable now after Djokovic admitted to an underlying health issue that is causing serious discomfort on the court. “Can the issue be fixed?” Djokovic said. “I don’t know. I’m trying.”
