Kyrgios revealed his conversation with Djokovic in the locker room: he might play for another year, but it's unlikely he will win a Grand Slam.

Recently, Australian player Kyrgios revealed in an interview a conversation he had with Djokovic in the locker room, predicting the Serbian's retirement timeline, which caused quite a stir.

At 38 years old, Djokovic appears to be moving farther from his goal of a 25th Grand Slam title, as the powerful rise of Alcaraz and Sinner has increasingly diminished his competitiveness in these tournaments. After his loss to Sinner in this year's Wimbledon semifinals, he admitted for the first time that his physical condition was quite poor, stating he only had "half a tank of gas" left, making it impossible to sustain himself for a championship. The combination of physical limitations and mental confusion has led Djokovic to experience a dual torment.

Kyrgios disclosed that during this year's Indian Wells Masters in the locker room, he posed a question to Djokovic: "Why are you still here? Why are you still competing?" Djokovic's response was intriguing—he first fell silent for a moment and then quietly replied, "I don't know." When Kyrgios pressed on family matters, Djokovic's answer was equally brief: "Yeah, I don't know."

The Australian remarked, "I believe he will stick around longer, yes, that's right. I asked him this question a while ago, and I think he is in a state of confusion."

Kyrgios astutely noticed Djokovic's deep attachment to family: "This was the first time I felt how much family ties affect him." Based on this, the Australian star boldly predicted, "I can't see him lasting more than another year, especially since he might never win another Grand Slam title."

Kyrgios's remarks received support and recognition from many. "For Djokovic at this stage, age and injuries are becoming his biggest adversaries, especially competing against two opponents who are 15 years younger than him. It's too cruel and unrealistic," said one netizen.

Veteran tennis commentator Steve Flink also analyzed, "If he reaches New York but only makes it to the round of 16, suffering an unexpected defeat, he might seriously consider retirement." Flink emphasized that Djokovic may undergo psychological reflection after this season: "He will ask himself: Will next year be better? I'm turning 39, why can’t my body be better?"

In this regard, renowned coach Mouratoglou pointed out Djokovic's current motivational crisis. He believes that the primary reason for this situation is the retirements of Federer and Nadal, which have stripped him of his competitive drive.

"The end of the Big Three era has removed the anchor points of Djokovic's career. With Federer retiring in 2022 and Nadal leaving the court in 2024, Djokovic may have reached the pinnacle of history, but he finds himself in unprecedented solitude," noted Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena's former coach.

He continued to analyze, "He has just realized he will become the greatest player of all time because Nadal is no longer on the court. Suddenly, the goal he fought for 15 years has vanished, and this emptiness after reaching the top has completely drained his motivation."

Of course, considering the current new generation of players' comprehensive pressure on Djokovic, this legendary champion may indeed find it very difficult to rise strongly from the lows again. His former coach Becker admitted in a podcast, "Now, Sinner and Alcaraz are stronger than Djokovic even during his good days." This assessment was confirmed during the Wimbledon matches, where Djokovic suffered a straight-set defeat to the eventual champion Sinner, spending most of the match in a passive position.

On the other hand, the familial ties that Kyrgios captured in their conversation are not unfounded. After Djokovic's injury withdrawal from last year's French Open, his team lamented that he hadn't returned home for over six months. However, the long-awaited visit was brief, as the Serbian stayed for about two weeks before starting preparations for Wimbledon. His team stated that years of competition have made Djokovic particularly long for the feeling of home, a sentiment that has intensified in recent years.

Additionally, Djokovic had previously planned to move his family to Athens through the "Golden Visa" program to start a new life. This move has been interpreted as a strategic arrangement before the end of his career. Athens boasts over 30 top international schools, with educational costs only a third of those in the UK and the US, while also providing a gateway to prestigious European universities. For Djokovic, who values his children's education, this is undoubtedly an ideal choice, but it also reflects a preemptive plan for his life after retirement.

Looking back at this year, the knee injury at the Australian Open, the hip injury at Wimbledon, and the accumulation of injuries throughout the long season, combined with his increasing age, have left the Serbian both physically and mentally exhausted. As for the upcoming US Open, Djokovic's prospects seem dim—last year he unexpectedly exited in the third round, and this year, under the shadow of whether his injuries can heal, it may be even harder to remain optimistic.

In fact, regardless of whether Djokovic will achieve an epic 25th Grand Slam title, his departure is sad for fans, as it signifies that we will not only bid farewell to the last glory of the Big Three era but also to our youth and dreams that will never return.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)