MELBOURNE: The Ironman is finally breaking down.
Even Novak Djokovic himself, he of countless, often controversial, miraculous injury comebacks acknowledges that harsh truth.
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the court after retiring. Getty
Djokovic has always been built different and he was cool and rational when addressing the media following Friday's Australian Open retirement that shocked the sporting world.
He told reporters he was "upset" and "hot headed" as his torn hamstring cried 'enough' but he didn't express that outwardly.
"How much of a worry is it?" the 24 time grand slam champion pondered when quizzed about his body betraying him again.
"I don't know. It's not like I'm worrying, approaching every grand slam now, you know, whether I'm going to get injured or not.
"But the statistics are against me in a way in the last couple of years.
"So it is true that I'm getting injured quite a bit, the last few years. I don't know what exactly is the reason for that – maybe several different factors. But I'll keep going, you know, I'll keep striving to win more slams and as long as I feel that I want to put up with all of this, I'll be around."
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates against Jordan Thompson of Australia. Getty
Djokovic is a borderline psychotic, Michael Jordan level of competitor.
He already holds virtually every record there is in tennis – except breaking free of Margaret Court's clutches.
Djokovic doesn't often play on Court's court – the GOAT is more of a Rod Laver man – but the Australian's lengthy shadow was hovering over centre court in the Melbourne afternoon sun.
Margaret Court walks to her seat on Rod Laver Arena before watching Novak Djokovic. Getty
Djokovic and Court met for the first time during this year's tournament as the Serbian strives to become the first player, male of female, to win 25 majors.
Melbourne, where he has won 10 of his 24, is his favourite hunting ground.
"We've got 11 months before he comes back here and when you're 37, that's a very, very, very long time," Daniela Hantuchova said on Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.
"More than anything, I admire still the motivational levels because I feel like after reaching that gold medal at the Olympics (last year to complete the golden slam), like where do you go from there?
"Yes, there is still the 25 on the line, but there will always be something to chase. I think it just gets harder when obviously now he has to take a longer break because of the injury and then bounce back, do all the training – which we know how much more it hurts when you're old.
"In Novak's case, it seems like he's made from something else compared to the rest of us. Maybe it's easier to bounce back and he's done it so well in the past.
"Physically, there's no question that I think he can once again get himself to the level, to when he comes back, to have us thinking 'OK he can go all the way.' It's more how do you find that motivation after everything he already has done?"
Serena Williams also cut a frustrated figure at the end of her glittering career as she came up one short of Court's magical 24.
Hantuchova said too much weight was being placed on that number given the completely different tennis landscape now.
Serena Williams of the United States reacts to a lost point against Anett Kontaveit of Estonia. Getty
Court won 13 major singles titles as an amateur.
"To me, winning that match against Carlos (Alcaraz) in Paris during the Olympics, I would just lock myself, the racquets, in the locker room and say, 'OK, I'm calling it off'," Hantuchova said.
"Because to me that was one of the most impressive matches he's played in his career. So that 25, will that make Novak more (content) – only he knows. Hey, what can we say on how much it means to to him personally?
"Because it's 2025, maybe we are talking about it more than ever.
"Because I don't think anything changes in any of us, how we look at Novak's career and everything he has done for the sport."
