Novak Djokovic Raises to strive for more Grand Slam titles at the age of 37 after his latest injury

Melbourne, Australia (AP) – It may be tempting to write off Novak Djokovic At this point to believe that he might be closer than ever to have finished competing for Grand Slam Titles And closer than ever to retirement, where his biggest rivals on the course-Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray-Aalled are resident.

Maybe these kinds of thoughts are natural in the immediate demand for Djokovic’s Exit from the Australian open semi -final On Friday with a torn leg muscle. He was booed off the track When he stopped right after dropping the first set against Alexander Zverev, a sudden ending of Djokovic’s pursuit of a 11th trophy at Melbourne Park and an unprecedented 25th major championship overall.

It was the second time in the last four slams that Djokovic needed to give up his place in the latter stages of the bracket. At last year’s French Open tore the meniscus in his right knee During a win in the fourth round and withdrew before the quarterfinals, it needed surgery.

Also relevant to the conversation: Djokovic will be 38 before this year’s next major, beginning at Roland Garros at the end of May. It was Nadal’s age when he closed his career In November. Murrayone week older than Djokovic, stopped playing last August (and Coachet Djokovic in Melbourne ). Federer’s last grand slam -fight came when he was 39 years old, Although he did not give up that he was finished until the following year.

“How much of a concern is that? I don’t know. It’s not like I worry (when) approaching any Grand Slam now, whether I want to be hurt or not. But statistics are against me in a way in the last few years, ”he acknowledged. “So it’s true that (I’ve been) being hurt quite a bit in the last few years. I don’t know what exactly is the reason for it. Maybe several different factors.”

What Djokovic said next is sure to make his fans happy and opponents careful.

“I continue. I still strive to win more slams, ”Djokovic said. “And as long as I feel I will put up with all this, I will be around.”

Remember that Djokovic was injured late in the first set of his previous match, against 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major champion who has been ranked No. 1. Despite that, Djokovic played well enough to delete a deficit and overcome Alcaraz In four sets.

Remember this also: Less than 1 1/2 months after last season on knee, Djokovic did it all the way To the final of Wimbledonwhere he lost against Alcaraz. Three weeks after this Djokovic made it all the way to the final at Paris -ol where he beat Alcaraz to finally collect the gold medal He had long wanted to bring home to Serbia.

Djokovic was unable to give a timeline Friday for how long he is sidelined now. He was also not quite ready to commit to returning to the Australian Open when asked if this might be his last look and said, “There is a chance. Who knows that? I’ll just have to see how the season goes. … If I’m in shape, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason I wouldn’t come. “

There is plenty of evidence that it is a mistake to consider Djokovic done.

There will still be those who have doubts about Djokovic’s health and longevity.

There were already such questions in some quarters, in fact, no matter how nonsensical: on-air remarks from a commentator who worked for the host TV station about Djokovic, which was overrated and one has been, which created a mood in week 1 of This Australian Open.

No one who knows anything about Djokovic or tennis would use these expressions.

“Novak has done absolutely everything he could on the tennis court for the past 20 years,” said Zverev, who will seek his first Grand Slam title when he meets defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final at Rod Laver Arena.

“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear where most players can’t even continue playing. He has won this tournament with a hamstring tower, ”Zverev said. “He is a 10-time master. We should all just respect it in a way because there is no one in the history of this sport who has won and who has done, as much as him. “

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Howard Fendrich has been AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP -Tennis: