John McEnroe immediately responded to Novak Djokovic’s post-match speech, which was both genuinely moving and highly thought-provoking.
Djokovic, who saw his one-set lead slip away against Carlos Alcaraz, addressed the crowd following his defeat.
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The Serb got off to a strong start, showcasing some brilliant shot-making as he chased what would have been his 25th Grand Slam title.
But it was Alcaraz’s energy that stood out. He grew stronger as the match went on and kept finding answers no matter what Djokovic threw at him.
This time though, the 38-year-old legend said something in his runner-up speech that caught a lot of people off guard. And with questions already swirling about his future, this will only add more fuel to those rumours.
John McEnroe responds to Novak Djokovic comment after final defeat
Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP via Getty Images
It was not a particularly bold or surprising comment from Djokovic, but the way he delivered it has raised questions about his future.
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He ended his speech by saying: “God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six or 12 months, so it has been a great ride – I love you guys.”
There was no mention of returning next year either, and speaking live on ESPN afterwards, John McEnroe said: “Can I just say quickly how what a class act Novak was in his speech, how gracious that was.
“It was really a beautiful thing to see, and he hasn’t gotten sort of the love that he’s wanted over the years, but he’s gonna get it certainly, for what remains in his career, and obviously, having not committed to next year, who knows?
“He doesn’t know, we don’t know, but thank you for that.”
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Patrick McEnroe added alongside him: “I think this meant a lot to him. It certainly meant a lot to his fans, you know, what he was able to do here. And I think he expressed that well.
“And I think he also realised how much it took for him to beat Sinner, to play as well as he did against Alcaraz. And you just have to start to wonder when you hear him talk. You know, is the end maybe near?”
Djokovic attributes his final loss to a decline in physicality, which is seemingly the sole factor that would lead him to contemplate retirement.
Why Novak Djokovic should not call it a career after this Australian Open
This does not feel like the moment for Djokovic to walk away from the game. Not after what he just showed in Melbourne.
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He did not just remind us why he is still world number three. He also showed he is more than capable of pushing Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner all the way.
Getting past Sinner in that five-setter was a huge result. And even though fatigue caught up with him in the final, he looked sharp early on and took the first set.
If anything, this tournament proved there is still plenty left in Djokovic. He came within reach of Grand Slam number 25 and looked more than able to compete at the very top level.
At 38, and coming off that kind of performance, there are still reasons for him to keep going, especially when his game has not shown any serious signs of decline.