Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, famous after defeating the learner Tien, of the United States, in the first round of the US Open Tennis Championships, Sunday August 24, 2025, in New York. (AP photo / Frank Franklin II)
New York – Novak Djokovic thinks he proposed a way to bring Serena Williams back during the tennis tour: dare to do so.
A night after Williams amazed the world of tennis by showing up to help inducted the Rivale Maria Sharapova to the International Tennis renown temple, Djokovic said he was thinking that it was “a beautiful moment”.
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“It was surprising, but a very beautiful gesture from Serena to be there for Maria,” said Djokovic on Sunday evening after winning his first round match at the US Open. “They had really intense rivalries and incredible matches over the years.”
Then he turned his thoughts to Williams, she of the 23 single home titles, one less than the total of Djokovic.
Williams left tennis after playing the US 2022 open, saying at the time that she preferred to consider herself “evolving” far from sport rather than retiring.
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“Of course, seeing Serena in any form or form around tennis is great. You know, we are missing,” said Djokovic, then added with an ironic smile: “She still has no official retirement.”
And then he added: “So I invite her. I challenge her. Because she is such a big competitor, when someone challenges her, she never refuses. So I challenge Serena: come back on tour next year.”
Williams will be 44 years old next month. His older sister, who came, who is 45, will play for the first time in the Grand Chelem tournament in two years at the US Open on Monday evening, after her return in July.
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