Rennae Stubbs thinks Novak Djokovic could do something unprecedented if he wins another Grand Slam.
2025 has been a difficult campaign for the 37-year-old and he struggles to find the form and consistency that has defined his illustrious career.
The biggest driving force for the Serbian is Grand Slam titles. Djokovic is aiming for a 25th major which would move him ahead of Margaret Court for the most of all time.
But with the French Open commencing in a month’s time, Rennae Stubbs thinks Djokovic may pull off a bold move should he win Roland Garros or any other major this year.
Renee Stubbs thinks Novak Djokovic could retire immediately after winning one more Grand Slam
For the last two decades Novak Djokovic has been playing professional tennis.
During that time he has contested some of the sport’s greatest matches and broken numerous records while winning title after title.
But he is currently in one of the most challenging periods of his career, which sees him fighting to win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2023.
Should he do so, Stubbs predicted the possibility of Djokovic retiring immediately afterwards, and compared it to Pete Sampras hanging up his racket after winning the 2002 US Open.
“He has nothing to prove. The only thing he has left and it’s the only thing he talks about is winning one more Grand Slam to have 25 Grand Slams and have the ultimate record,” Stubbs via her self-titled podcast.
“Serena really wanted 25. But she didn’t get it and does it define her? No, of course not. She is still the greatest female player of all time and arguably the greatest player of all time.
“Novak is sitting in that same spot and I think the only thing that drives him is maybe winning one more and I could see him literally doing a Pete Sampras and dropping the mic and being like I am done.”
Novak Djokovic honest admission of where his game is at after Madrid Open defeat
For the second time this season, Djokovic lost his third successive match.
Following a defeat in the Miami Open final to Jakub Mensik and a loss to Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo, Djokovic played Matteo Arnaldi in Madrid.
In their first ever meeting, Arnaldi claimed a 6-3, 6-4 victory, meaning Djokovic lost his seventh match of the season, and he admitted he is adjusting to a new normal.
“I was hoping I could play one more match than I played in Monte Carlo,” he told reporters post-match. “Kind of a new reality for me, I have to say. Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament.
“It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it’s kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments.”
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