Marion Bartoli has asserted that it is “far too premature” to discuss the prospect of “the end” of Novak Djokovic after the Serbian’s defeat to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open. 

The 2013 Wimbledon champion believes that, while the “young generation is pushing”, Djokovic’s loss to Sinner in Melbourne “remains an accident”.

Djokovic fell to a surprisingly decisive 1-6, 2-6, 7-6(5), 3-6 loss to world No 4 and eventual champion Sinner in the semi-finals of the 2024 Australian Open on Friday.

Heading into the match, the world No 1 had won 33 consecutive matches at the Melbourne Grand Slam and had not tasted defeat at the tournament since 2018

The 36-year-old Serbian is a 10-time Australian Open winner and had never previously lost at the semi-final stage at the hard-court major.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion claimed three of the four major titles in a stunning 2023 campaign which he ended as the ATP world No 1 for a record-extending eighth time.

A focused Novak Djokovic

Speaking on the Les Grandes Gueules du Sport show on RMC Sports, Bartoli highlighted the impact Djokovic’s stellar 2023 season could have had on his start to 2024.

“He is a player who arrived worn and tired from a year 2023 which was exceptional for him. Now, we know that he has four big deadlines remaining: the three remaining Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic Games,” the Frenchwoman said.

“There, he will take a break and recharge his batteries with his family and then he will prepare for Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympics, which will be a very tough sequence since we change surfaces twice, and he will prepare for background on that.

“And even if the young generation is pushing, it is obvious, for me, [his] defeat remains an accident. We cannot say that this is the end of Djokovic, it is far too premature to get into that. He actually missed his Australian Open but he won’t miss his season, I can guarantee you that.”

In a post shared on Twitter / X after Djokovic won the 2023 ATP Finals, former world No 7 Bartoli lauded the Serbian’s remarkable achievements.

“Djokovic is not only the greatest tennis player of all time but he is also the best sportsman in the world. Novak has broken all the records in this sport 🎾 and above all this incredible longevity in staying at the top! #respect,” wrote the 39-year-old.

Since retiring, Bartoli has coached WTA star Jelena Ostapenko and also worked as a tennis commentator and analyst.