Novak Djokovic announcement that most people missed in wake of Australian Open final loss

Novak Djokovic moved to clarify his plans for the future in the wake of dropping a bit of a retirement bombshell after the Australian Open final. But the comments were made in Serbian, which means the majority of tennis fans actually missed it.

Speaking on-court in his runner-up speech after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday night's final, Djokovic admitted he wasn't sure if he'll be back at the Australian Open in 2027. Telling he said: "It's been a great ride", before signing off.

The five words sparked a frenzy around the tennis world, with many interpreting them to mean he might have seen Djokovic in Australia for the last time. He then moved to clarify his comment in his official press conference, but only during the Serbian portion of his face-to-face with reporters.

"I don't know if I will see them again or not,” he said about his Aussie fans. "That's why I left it open. I really don't know. You've followed me for a long time and I don't pretend or fake things. I told you for the last year or year and a half that I’m not sure how much and what is next."

The 38-year-old has previously stated he'd love to keep playing until the LA Olympics in 2028. On Sunday night he revealed he could keep playing for another two of three years, but with an extremely altered schedule.

"I said I'd like to play until the 2028 Olympics, but that might mean playing one tournament a year, maybe 10, 15, two, or seven - I honestly don’t know," he said. "I don't want to make decisions about my schedule and future so far in advance. Right now, my only wish is to be with my family and then I'll see what’s next."

Novak Djokovic genuinely unsure what the future holds

The 24-time grand slam champion said he'll definitely be back in Australia, but whether or not he does so as a player remains to be seen. "I have no idea (what happens next)," he added. "I can't talk or think about further steps or tournaments.

"I truly meant what I said on the court - the crowd gave me unforgettable emotions in the last two matches that I haven't experienced here in their totality before. I'm grateful for that because I think I deserved it. I will return to Australia, but whether as an active player or not, we will see."

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