Tennis legend makes stunning Novak Djokovic prediction

Defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic will capture his 25th major with a successful title defense at Flushing Meadows over the following weeks. By doing so, he'd officially surpass women's icon Margaret Court — who won 24 titles between 1960 and 1973 — for most majors among all players.

As the Serb stands on the brink of immortality, one legend believes he could walk away from the sport with his fifth US Open title. The bold prediction comes from 18-time major winner Chris Evert, who reckons Djokovic may retire despite his insistence that he's got several years left in the tank. 

"I think if he wins the 25th major, I would think he would leave the game," Evert told ESPN. "I mean, I don't know, he would break that tie with Margaret Court. He's won the Olympics. 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? I would allow him to retire after that, I would say 'Okay, you have everybody in the world's permission to retire [laughs]."

To Evert's point, Djokovic's Olympic gold medal —  the only piece of hardware that had eluded him —  felt like a full circle moment, with the Serb calling it the "biggest sporting success" of his career. As such, if Djokovic were to follow his Olympic success with the record-breaking 25th major, he'd have accomplished everything there is to in tennis. 

"It will be a fairy tale finish," Evert acknowledged. 

Interestingly, 2024 is the first calendar year since 2017 that has yet to see Djokovic capture a major, with the Serb falling short at Wimbledon (loss in final), French Open (withdrawal due to injury in QF) and Australian Open (loss in the semifinal). At least one member of tennis' famed Big 3 of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have won at least one major every year since 2003. If Djokovic fails to capture the 202 Australian Open title, that remarkable 21-year streak will end, too.

The Serb begins his title defense Monday with a first-round tie against Moldova's Radu Albot.