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Novak Djokovic has spent his entire career silencing doubters, and at 38 years old, he still continues to do so.

The Serbian is timeless, and has arguably been the third-best player throughout 2025, way behind Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

This unstoppable duo have been, by considerable distance, the dominant force on the ATP Tour for two years now.

Had they not burst onto the scene and risen to the apex of the sport, it really feels like Djokovic would have cruised to the elusive Grand Slam record of a 25th title.

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However, as it stands, that dream seems more and more unlikely as they grow in stature while Djokovic, unsurprisingly, wilts.

That being said, his most recent triumph in Athens, winning yet another ATP title, has silenced a huge narrative that emerged after his US Open exit.

What were people saying about Novak Djokovic after the US Open?

For a normal player, reaching the semi-finals of all four majors in a year would be the best of their career.

For Djokovic, it is considered not good enough.

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The standards he has set for himself with his consistent quality over two decades are unparalleled, and so when he falls below those levels, fans begin to have doubts.

This manifested in many suggesting that, after being consistently beaten by Alcaraz and Sinner on the biggest stages, that retirement loomed for him.

Rennae Stubbs predicted Djokovic might retire at the Australian Open; meanwhile, Tim Henman suggested when Djokovic should retire, noting: “What I always say about these great players is they should play as long as they want. They have earned the right to play as long as they want. If they are enjoying it, keep playing.

“It’s the best job in the world. You are a long-time retired. It will be interesting to see how Djokovic approaches 2026, what his schedule is like and his level of play.”

Novak Djokovic has no reason to retire

As Henman suggests, Djokovic has earned the right not to be pressured into such a huge decision.

And, given he has never been afraid of voicing his opinion, there’s likely no worry of that being the case anyway.

Despite all the fanfare though, he has still enjoyed a supreme season of immense quality.

This was capped off by his title in Athens, which proved that, when Alcaraz and Sinner are not present in an event, he has a great chance to stroll to victory.

This alone should provide him with more than enough reason to stay present on the tour and wait for an opportunity to arise.