Djokovic addresses retirement talk ahead of Australian Open return, issues bold message to Alcaraz and Sinner

Novak Djokovic will begin his 2026 Australian Open campaign on Monday against Spain’s Pedro Martinez, as the Serbian great looks to end his Grand Slam title drought that stretches back to the 2023 US Open.

Since that triumph, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have shared the last eight major titles. Despite battling injuries, Djokovic reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slams in 2025. His Australian Open run last year ended when a hamstring injury forced him to retire from the semifinals, a round he reached after defeating Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion will be making his 21st appearance at Melbourne Park. Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic addressed speculation about retirement, saying his love for competition remains strong.

“I’m still living my dream, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “It’s passion and love for the game, the interaction with people, the energy you feel when you walk out on the court. That adrenaline rush is almost like a drug. It’s addictive, the feeling of competing.”

“When that moment about retirement becomes ripe in my head, I’ll share it with you, and then we can discuss the farewell tour,” he added.

Djokovic lost to Sinner in the semifinals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year, and to Alcaraz in the US Open semifinals. After his defeat in New York, he admitted it was uncertain whether he could still consistently challenge the two younger stars.

However, Djokovic struck a more confident note ahead of the Australian Open.

“I know that when I’m healthy, when I can put all the pieces together on a given day, I feel like I can beat anybody,” he said. “If I didn’t have that belief, I wouldn’t be sitting here or competing.”

Acknowledging the current dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, Djokovic added: “They’re playing on a different level right now, but that doesn’t mean nobody else has a chance. I always like my chances in any tournament — particularly here.”