Novak Djokovic knows how to make the best of any situation! But he is currently dealing with a rather rough season amidst his spotless record. Earlier today, Djokovic lost the Shanghai Masters title to Jannik Sinner in a 7-6(5), 6-3 and with that, lost the opportunity to claim his 100th title on the tour. But the Serb isn’t too disheartened. Instead, he’s happy with the season as he achieved his dream of winning gold at the Olympics.

During a press conference after the Shanghai Masters final, Djokovic answered a question assessing his season as a whole, which he not-so-subtly deemed “one of his worst-performing seasons in terms of results.” With the season drawing to a close soon, the Serbian hasn’t won any titles or Grand Slams yet. But despite that, he isn’t too bothered by it. Stating, “It was going to come at some point where, you know, I wouldn’t win slams and maintain that highest level for so many years in a row,” Djokovic said.

Outside the tour though, Novak won the highest honor any athlete could hope for – the Gold Medal at the Men’s singles in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Not to mention that he made it to the Wimbledon finals and still holds the record of winning 72 big titles, which encompass the Grand Slam Championships, ATP Finals, and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.

Reflecting on the fact that he didn’t win even a single title on the tour this season, Djokovic said, “That’s okay, I’m happy with my gold medal from Olympics, that was the main goal for this year. And, you know, of course, I wish that I could have gotten at least a Grand Slam title or won big title.”

After his match against Sinner at the Shanghai Masters, Djokovic took to Instagram to write his sincere feelings towards the World No. 1, saying, “Tough to take the L at a tournament so close to my heart, but it wasn’t meant to be today. Bravo @janniksin and to your team for today’s win and on an incredible year💪” He even posted a photo of himself looking sharp in a suit captioned, “leaving China in style,” showing his professionalism to the sport.

But now achieving the coveted 100th title remains unchecked on Novak’s list for this year. And fans are left crossing their fingers, hoping he can break through before the season wraps up. Until then, Djokovic walks off the court with a shrug and a casual, “It’s fine, you know, it is what it is,” as he stated to the media post-match.

Let’s not forget that Djokovic is now the only member of the famed Big Three still swinging his luck around. Could that be weighing in on Novak as he keeps his head in the game?

Djokovic reflects on the departures of tennis legends

On October 10th, Nadal announced his official retirement from professional tennis, stating that his body could not cope with injuries sustained in 2022 anymore, as he made the difficult decision to throw in the towel at the Davis Cup in November. Having watched his fellow athletes retire recently, including Roger Federer and now Rafael Nadal, Novak feels a profound sense of loss and is a bit anxious about the road ahead.

Following the retirement announcement, Djokovic posted a sweet message to his friend, reflecting on their fierce rivalry and expressing deep respect for Nadal. The Serb noted, “Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player.” However, after his match against Jakub Mensik at the Shanghai Masters, Djokovic admitted that “it’s still a shock.”

“When it came officially, also for Roger a few years ago as well, when he announced retirement. Andy as well this year.. it’s a bit overwhelming for me to be honest,” Djokovic added. “I don’t know what to make of it. I still enjoy competing. But part of me left with them.. a big part of me. It’s tough news for the tennis world and for the sports world. Rafa has been an inspiration for millions of children around the world.”

Going ahead, the 2024 season is nearing its completion and Novak is set to compete in the 6 Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia next. However, whether he competes in the Paris Masters and the ATP finals remains uncertain. Will Novak clinch a title before the season ends? What do you think?