Novak Djokovic has been named the GOAT but fans are split over when he should retire (Image: Getty)
Tennis fans are divided over whether Novak Djokovic should retire next year after his dad advised him to. Aged 36, the Serb is playing as well as ever and this year broke the record for most men’s singles Grand Slam titles with 23. And with his achievement, Djokovic has pulled ahead in the GOAT debate.
Djokovic has enjoyed another triumphant season so far, most notably winning the first two Majors of the season. His victories meant that he surpassed Rafael Nadal as the most decorated man at Grand Slam level with a record of 23 to his name while the Spaniard holds 22 trophies.
In the eyes of Express Sport readers, the world No 2 is now well and truly the greatest of all time ahead of Nadal and Roger Federer. But fans are split over when Djokovic should end his illustrious career.
49 per cent agreed with Djokovic’s father Srdjan, who recently shared his wish to see the 94-time title winner hang up his racket in 2024. But 51 per cent said that the 36-year-old should keep playing for more than just a year.
Novak Djokovic won a men’s record 23rd Grand Slam title this year (Image: Getty)
It comes after Srdjan told the Novak Djokovic – Untold Stories documentary that his son had already fulfilled all of his expectations seven or eight years ago. He explained: “Tennis is only one segment of his life, not his whole life. I expect him to be recognised for the things he will do after his career ends as well, after he leaves the tennis world, which I hope it will happen next year. And for Novak to slowly but surely… it’s not the end, but in a year-and-a-half let’s say.”
The 62-year-old also admitted that his son probably should have already stopped playing tennis. “My wish as a father – I think for some time that he should have stopped working this extremely difficult job. It’s physically and mentally challenging and very demanding – with him being fully dedicated for 30 years, and not taking his foot off the gas, there is not much time for other things in life,” he added.
Although Srdjan’s comments have caused a debate among Express Sport readers, there is an agreement when it comes to crowning Djokovic as the greatest of all time. 46 per cent said that the Serb would be the GOAT when all was said and done, and he finally did retire.
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Rafael Nadal has been sidelined since January and is set to retire next year (Image: Getty)
It’s more than double the number of votes Nadal got, with the Spaniard holding 22 Major titles to his name – 14 of which have come at the French Open in an achievement many believe won’t be replicated. Just 21 per cent thought that the Spaniard would end his career at the GOAT.
And Federer – who retired last September with his rivals by his side at the Laver Cup – received 33 per cent of votes. The Swiss star was the first player from his generation to break Pete Sampras’ old record of 14 Grand Slam titles, and was the first to reach 20 before both Djokovic and Nadal surpassed him.
Djokovic could well keep adding to his records too as he is currently the only active member of the Big Three. Nadal hasn’t played a match since January, picking up a psoas injury that ended his season. The 37-year-old admitted that he wanted to return on 2024 for what he thought would be a retirement lap of honour, while Federer hung up his own racket 11 months ago.
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