Novak Djokovic’s father has called for his son to consider retirement, a new documentary on the Serb has revealed.
The 36-year-old who lost a gruelling Wimbledon final this month to 20-year-old Spanish world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz may or may not heed the advice of parent Srdjan Djokovic.
The shock plea is made in the film Novak Djokovic – Untold Stories, which has been in the works for some years.
Former mountain pizza restaurant owner Srdjan said he believes the time is drawing near for his son to move onto the next phase of his life – even if the player himself seems determined to improve on his historic total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
“He has already fulfilled them (a father’s dreams) seven/eight years ago,” the elder Djokovic said in the film.
“The rest is this amazing bonus, tennis is only one segment of his life, not his whole life.
“I expect him to be recognised for the things he will do after his career ends as well, after he leaves the tennis world, which I hope it will happen next year.”
The parent added: “”And for Novak to slowly but surely… it’s not the end, but in a year-and-a-half let’s say.
“My wish as a father – I think for some time that he should have stopped working this extremely difficult job.
“With him being fully dedicated for 30 years, and not taking his foot off the gas, there is not much time for other things in life.”
Djokovic was seemingly jolted by his Wimbledon loss and is currently on holiday in the Med; he has also pulled out of the pre-US Open Toronto Masters tuneup event starting the first week of August.
