Will Novak Djokovic retire if he wins US Open 2024?

Former world No.1 Chris Evert believes that if Novak Djokovic wins the US Open this year, he could well retire.

In an interview for ESPN on Wednesday, the 18-time Grand Slam winner revealed why she believes one more major title could push the 37-year-old to give up the game.

“I think if he wins the 25th major, I would think he would leave the game,” Evert explained.

“I mean, I don’t know, he would break that tie with Margaret Court.”

Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slams — more than any other male player, but level with the number won by Margaret Court, who dominated in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Evert doubtful Djokovic can find motivation in New York

While Evert thinks Djokovic could well call it quits if he wins the 2024 US Open, she is not so confident that he will be able to find enough motivation to see off this year’s stiff competition.

“He’s won the Olympics,” she explained.

“That was such a big goal for him, winning the Olympics.

“As far as winning the US Open, does the 25th mean as much?

“Can he get that energy going as much as he got in the Olympics?

“He’s going to come up against, again, some really tough competition.

“Can he do it two times in a row, the Olympics and the US Open?”

Top tennis bookmakers are inclined to agree with Evert’s thinking.

Despite having won the US Open three times, Djokovic is not the betting favourite in New York.

That label belongs to 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who sits at +150 outright odds with bookmaker Bovada.

Behind Alcaraz is world No.1 Jannik Sinner on +200, while Djokovic holds the third line of betting at +225.

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