Shanghai: Novak Djokovic affirmed that he intends to “Compete and play next season,” following his loss to world number one Jannik Sinner in final of Shanghai Masters.

37-year-old Serbian, who holds a record 24 Grand Slam titles, fell to Sinner with a score of 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, marking his third defeat in four encounters against the 2023 Australian Open and US Open champion. Despite acknowledging that this has been “one of the worst-performing seasons” in terms of results, Djokovic remains resolute about his future in the sport. “I don’t know what the future brings; I’ll just try to go with the flow,” he stated during a press conference.  

Loss leaves Djokovic just one title shy of joining tennis legends Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only players to reach 100 career titles. Yet, Djokovic downplayed the significance of this target, stating, “It’s not a live-or-die type of goal for me. I think I’ve achieved all of my biggest goals in my career.” He also praised Sinner, highlighting the young Italian’s strong baseline play and tactical acumen.