Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic Announces Plans for After Tennis Retirement at US Open

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 3:07 PM ET

Novak Djokovic may still be going strong at 38, holding his own against the new generation led by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but even he knows he can’t play forever. As the last active member of the legendary “Big Three,” every tournament he enters feels like a reminder that tennis is inching toward the end of an era.

Yet while fans continue to wonder how much longer Djokovic will compete, the Serbian star has already started looking ahead. And at the US Open, he gave a glimpse into what life after tennis might look like for him.

In a recent video shared by the US Open social media, Djokovic was asked what he would do after retiring from Tennis. The Serbian superstar jokingly said, “My plan after I retire from Tennis is to coach Fonseca. I am going to be very expensive for him so be ready.”

While Djokovic might be joking when he plays it off, earlier in the week he admitted something that hit a little deeper his career has forced him to miss important milestones in his personal life, and that’s becoming harder to accept.

Djokovic.

"My plans after I retire from tennis is to coach Fonseca". https://t.co/5CfQHM1sFh
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 25, 2025

Ahead of his US Open opener against American youngster Learner Tien, Djokovic reflected on the balance between tennis and family, saying his family has always been the foundation of his journey but confessed it’s tough knowing he could miss his daughter’s birthday on September 2nd. He even admitted that moments like those are ones he no longer wants to miss, sparking plenty of chatter online about whether the end of his career could be closer than people think.

Novak Djokovic Impressed by What He Sees From Joao Fonseca

Back in March 2025 at the Miami Open, Novak Djokovic had high praise for rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca. Speaking after his third-round win, Djokovic described the 18-year-old as one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour, pointing out his “incredible firepower” from the baseline and a strong serve to match. What impressed the 24-time Grand Slam champion even more was Fonseca’s composure, saying it’s rare to see someone so young handle nerves so well on the big stage.

Djokovic also spoke about the bigger picture, stressing how important it is for tennis to have a future superstar from Brazil, calling it a huge market with passionate fans. For him, Fonseca looks more than capable of filling that role. At the time, Djokovic was chasing his 100th career title, while Fonseca had just made history in Buenos Aires as the youngest South American to ever win an ATP title.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: