Andre Agassi predicts if Novak Djokovic has just played his last-ever French Open match after losing to Jannik Sinner

He got down to kiss the clay that had brought him so much success over his two decades competing before waving to the crowd, touching his chest to let his appreciation be known.

Novak Djokovic is one of the true greats of tennis, and to see him depart would be such a shame.

Fortunately, Agassi has offered his optimistic insight.

Andre Agassi makes bold Novak Djokovic retirement prediction

It was actually Jim Courier who kickstarted the conspiracy, noting: ‘He may not know in this moment, but it’s significant when he stops. Like, he was walking off the court and he stopped and made a point to do this. To pay his respects to a court that has been really good to him.

‘It’s also handed him a lot of heartbreak along the way, especially when Rafa was a big part of the story.

‘But this guy is arguably the second-best male clay court player in the open era. I mean, the amount of times he’s been at the quarter-finals here, the amount of times he’s won here, the amount of times he’s been in the finals, the guy is an absolute legend at this court, Hall of Fame career only at Roland Garros.

‘You take everything else out, the gold medal, three times, incredible. Is he saying goodbye? That’s what it feels like. But I hope it’s not. I mean, I want to see this guy around as long as possible.’

He then asked Agassi for his take, who replied: Yeah, you know, I can actually look at it a little different, too, just knowing Novak a little bit.

‘He’s at a place in his life where it’s great to see him with gratitude, you know? He has nothing to prove anymore. And it’s nice to see him know that.

Novak Djokovic’s last five results vs Jannik Sinner

‘So when you start putting him in that different mindset, it actually does mean something for him to be very present to realise where he is, to realise what it may or may not be, but something tells me still, walking away from this game has to come on your terms. He deserves it to be on his terms.

‘I believe we’re gonna still see him out there until he’s convinced, you know, life’s gonna take him a new direction.

‘New season of life, maybe he has to find a new reason, new motivation, but if there’s anybody I’ve bet on to sort of find that would be him.’

Considering what Djokovic shouted at his box about Sinner, it’s clear that he’s aware of the gulf appearing between him and the top two.

Novak Djokovic is too good to retire yet

Although there have been murmurs that Djokovic might have just played his last-ever French Open, surely a performance of that magnitude, against a player that great, should be enough to inspire more matches out of him.

Conversely, when he played that well and still lost in straight sets, there is cause for frustration.

That being said, if the Serbian could bring that level to all of his matches going forward, there are few, if any on tour other than Jannik Sinner and potentially Carlos Alcaraz who could compete with him.

His serving was sublime and his returns characteristically solid, and he troubled the world number one for large parts of the match.

It would be a shame to see him bid farewell after such a sad exit, but if that performance is to be his final memory at Philippe Chatrier, then it is not a bad one. Hopefully a strong end to the season can convince him otherwise.