Novak Djokovic sends clear message about his retirement ahead of Monte-Carlo debut

After a tough loss in the Miami Open final to rising star Jakub Mensik, Novak Djokovic is ready to shift gears for the clay-court season. The 37-year-old Serbian, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history, is set to face Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in the Monte–Carlo Masters on Wednesday.

Ahead of the match, Djokovic addressed ongoing questions about retirement, revealing he still has unfinished business on the court. “You never know. Let’s see. I still feel like I have some gas left in the tank. I feel like, as I have proven, you know, in Australia and Miami, that I can still play on a high level. And that gives me still satisfaction to be on the court and compete,” Djokovic told ESPN.

“I know that there’s a group of people that thinks that I should leave tennis on a high, which I understand,” he continued. “A lot of people thought that I should call it quits after a gold medal last year. But let’s see what the future brings”.

The Serbian star also shared a personal milestone he’s eager to achieve. “Of course, I’d love to win. If you tell me I’ll win my 100th title in any of the Slams this year, I’ll sign right away. But it’s a big mountain to climb, so, be a bit more humble about it, and hope for the best,” he added.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand on the practice courts during day one of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Djokovic’s reference to his 99 career titles highlights his desire to reach the century mark—ideally at one of the three remaining Grand Slam events this season (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, or the US Open). Even if it means sacrificing other tournament victories along the way, reaching 100 titles is clearly a driving force.

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The 24-time Grand Slam champion already holds the men’s record for most major titles. However, adding another would make him the all-time leader across both men’s and women’s tennis, surpassing Margaret Court’s historic 24-Slam mark.

Expectations tempered for Monte-Carlo

Despite his competitive fire and long-term ambitions, Djokovic downplayed his immediate expectations for Monte-Carlo, a tournament he has won twice in his illustrious career.

“I’m glad in Miami I found that joy on the court and performance levels, so let’s see if I can carry that into clay,” Djokovic explained. “It’s a different surface and I’ve not had much time to get used to this tournament, so my expectations aren’t that high“.