{"id":2122854,"date":"2026-09-01T15:30:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T12:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2122854"},"modified":"2026-09-01T15:30:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T12:30:31","slug":"former-world-no-1-questions-if-novak-djokovic-can-still-enjoy-tennis-after-us-open-collapse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2122854","title":{"rendered":"Former world No 1 questions if Novak Djokovic can still &#8216;enjoy&#8217; tennis after US Open collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Former world No 1 questions if Novak Djokovic can still \u2018enjoy\u2019 tennis after US Open collapse<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/ewan-west\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Ewan West                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"01 Sep 2026 4:30 PM\" data-ps-date=\"01 Sep 2026 4:30 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1788276631\"><br \/>\n                            01 Sep 2026 4:30 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" 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      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fnovak-djokovic-us-open-2026-retirement-future-justine-henin\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to linkedin\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/\/send\/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fnovak-djokovic-us-open-2026-retirement-future-justine-henin\" aria-label=\"Share to whatsapp\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fnovak-djokovic-us-open-2026-retirement-future-justine-henin\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Former world No 1 questions if Novak Djokovic can still \u2018enjoy\u2019 tennis after US Open collapse\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Novak-Djokovic-takes-a-breather-during-his-match-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Novak Djokovic takes a breather during his match\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Novak Djokovic takes a breather during his match                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin has questioned if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Novak Djokovic<\/a> \u201ccan enjoy not being able to compete at the highest level\u201d after his US Open exit.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic collapsed physically during a shock 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 defeat to world No 49 Mariano Navone in the first round at the 2026 US Open.<\/p>\n<p>The 24-time major winner, who has revealed he is dealing with an unspecified physical issue, admitted he \u201cdespised\u201d being on court.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen it comes to match itself and the overall feeling of how I felt with my body and playing, it was really not enjoyable,\u201d said the 39-year-old Serb.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Eurosport and HBO Max, Henin discussed what may be going through Djokovic\u2019s head after his painful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/us-open\">US Open<\/a> loss.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor sure, there are so many questions coming into Novak Djokovic\u2019s head because he always had the resources in the past to deal with what he went through,\u201d said the Belgian.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut he has also talked in the past two years about the fact that he is not winning as much in the past; not winning Grand Slams anymore.<\/p>\n<h2>More US Open News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/novak-djokovic-signs-up-for-tennis-tournament-immediately-after-us-open-exit\"><strong>Novak Djokovic signs up for tennis tournament immediately after US Open exit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/john-mcenroe-radical-tennis-rule-change-us-open-carlos-alcaraz\"><strong>John McEnroe calls for tennis rule to be \u2018abolished immediately\u2019 at US Open \u2013 and Carlos Alcaraz won\u2019t agree<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe still plays for the majors. He still plays to make the history of the game in another way. He wants also to keep enjoying what he does, but can you really can enjoy the game not being able to compete at the highest level?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was still at a very high level for a long time. He didn\u2019t lose the first round in the Grand Slam for 20 years. Will it change the way he can see things? It will depend also on how he physically he can react in the next few weeks, in the next few months.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut probably it\u2019s a process, a process that we don\u2019t have access to think about his future \u2014 to accept that maybe the best is behind him and that there is another life also in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The former world No 1 went on to address the question of how much longer Djokovic will keep playing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt will be his timing. He cannot answer and we all have to accept it because it\u2019s a process that is his own one. I don\u2019t have the answer,\u201d Henin continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese champions, we always want to imagine in one way or another that they will live forever. They will remain legends, for sure, forever. We still want them to find some resources.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was hard with Roger [Federer]. It was also very hard with Rafa [Nadal], and it will be hard also in another way with Novak. So today, I\u2019m a little bit more concerned than I was a few months ago.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut in another way, there is nothing dramatic, no matter what he chooses in the next few months. I think tennis has a future and he will be a big part of the history of the game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a case of him trying to surpass himself one more time, getting these emotions also he\u2019s looking for this with the crowd also.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think he wants to keep living this kind of emotions, but maybe with more joy in the future, so we will see.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Watch the US Open on HBO Max and Eurosport (coverage in Europe excludes Austria, Italy, Germany, Spain, the UK and Ireland).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>READ NEXT: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/us-open-tennis-roundup-carlos-alcaraz-message-novak-djokovic-critics-slammed-alex-eala-praise\">US Open tennis roundup: Alcaraz\u2019s message, Djokovic critics told to \u2018shut up\u2019, Eala gets ultimate praise<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former world No 1 questions if Novak Djokovic can still \u2018enjoy\u2019 tennis after US Open collapse Ewan West 01 Sep 2026 4:30 PM Novak Djokovic takes a breather during his match Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin has questioned if Novak Djokovic \u201ccan enjoy not being able to compete at the highest level\u201d after his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2122854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2122854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2122854\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2122854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2122854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2122854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}