Australian Open Director Tiley Confirms Djokovic's Return in 2026

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley expressed confidence that Novak Djokovic will return to the Grand Slam next year, despite his recent retirement in the semifinals due to a hamstring injury. Djokovic was jeered by some fans after losing the opening set to Alexander Zverev and later shared MRI images to illustrate the severity of his injury. Tiley emphasized Djokovic's commitment to preparation and noted that he had done everything possible to compete. The tournament saw record attendance with over 1.1 million spectators, although concerns about crowd behavior were raised, prompting discussions about potential caps on attendance to maintain the quality of the experience. Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys emerged as the men's and women's champions, respectively, at the event. Djokovic, while uncertain about his future, indicated that if healthy, he would like to participate in the tournament again.