After Rafael Nadal Exit, Novak Djokovic Left To Rage Against Dying Of The Light

Rafael Nadal's retirement announcement on Thursday left Novak Djokovic as the last man standing from tennis's golden era but with major question marks over the Serb star's own long-term future in the sport. Djokovic remains marooned on 24 Grand Slam titles, a record for a man but still level with Margaret Court in the all-time total. For the first time since 2017, he will finish a season without a Grand Slam trophy. Djokovic, who will be 38 next May, salvaged his season by winning Olympic gold in Paris, a victory he described as his "greatest achievement".

That made him only the third man after Nadal and Andre Agassi to clinch a career Golden Slam of all four majors plus Olympic gold.

However, Djokovic has been pushed into the shadows by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who split the four Grand Slams between them in 2024, confirming their status as the brightest stars in tennis's new generation.

This year was the first since 2002 that at least one of the Slams had not fallen to either Djokovic, Nadal or Roger Federer who retired two years ago.

Djokovic's stunning third round loss to Alexei Popyrin at the US Open was his earliest exit in New York since 2006.

'Worst tennis'

"I played some of the worst tennis I have ever played," admitted a crestfallen Djokovic after his title defence came to an abrupt end.

Djokovic's rollercoaster year has seen him lose his Australian Open title to Sinner who also ended his stay as world number one, a lofty status he had enjoyed for a combined 428 weeks.

Alcaraz, 16 years his junior, succeeded him as French Open champion after Djokovic withdrew from his scheduled quarter-final with a knee injury which required surgery.

Alcaraz then blew the Serb off court to defend his Wimbledon crown