Tim Henman believes Novak Djokovic will have one last crack at the Australian Open before potentially hanging up his racket after losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.
The 38-year-old was bidding to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at the US Open but saw his quest ended by Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
Alcaraz controlled the opening set after an early break but the second went to a tie-break, Alcaraz crucially coming out on top to demoralise Djokovic.
A fading Djokovic was broken twice in the third set, with Alcaraz clinching a 6-4 7-6 6-2 victory to book his place in the US Open.
Alcaraz will face either defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner or revitalised Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime in the final.
A record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title continues to evade Djokovic, who reached the semi-final of all four majors in 2025 but lost to either Sinner or Alcaraz three times.
Djokovic has repeatedly nodded to the end of his extraordinary tennis career but is yet to reveal how long he plans to go on for.
Another humbling defeat to a player 16 years his junior may lead to more doubts Djokovic’s future but Henman expects the Serbian legend to play at the Australian Open at the start of 2026.
Djokovic is desperate to secure one last Grand Slam title at ten of his 24 majors have come in Melbourne.
Asked if he expected Djokovic to continue after his straight-sets US Open defeat to Alcaraz, Henman told Sky Sports: ‘I think he will.
‘I think he will give it one more year at the Australian Open. That’s where he’s had his greatest success. So I think he will have one more attempt down there. But maybe he doesn’t even know at this stage.
‘It was a brilliant performance from Alcaraz. Spare a thought for Novak, those first two sets so close but Alcaraz was able to come up with the answers and find solutions.
‘Novak faded fast but it’s another incredible performance from a 38-year-old to make four Grand Slam semi-finals. It was a step too far as it has been all year.’
Speaking in his on-court interview, Alcaraz said it was a ‘great feeling’ to reach another Grand Slam title but insisted he was ‘not at his best level’.
The Spaniard is looking to add a sixth Grand Slam title to his collection and his first at Flushing Meadows since 2022.
‘It is a great feeling to be in the final again,’ Alcaraz said. ‘It was not the best level today, but I kept a good level from the start to the last point.
‘I think I served pretty well which was important today. I tried to play a physical match and I think I did it.
‘In general, I played great tennis and I am happy to be in my second final at the US Open.’
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