Andy Roddick Thinks Novak Djokovic’s Dream of Retiring at Olympics is ‘Perfect Way’ to Express Loyalty to Serbia Amidst Political Turmoil

Novak Djokovic relocated to Greece, reportedly because of the political unrest in Serbia. Last year, Djokovic supported the students’ protest that erupted following the Novi-Sad incident that saw the railway station canopy collapse, killing 16 people.

Djokovic was last seen in action in the first edition of the Hellenic Championship, where his campaign ended with a three-set win over Lorenzo Musetti. The Serb straightaway withdrew from the ongoing ATP Finals, which triggered backlash.

At the press conference after his win, Djokovic expressed his wish to retire with the Serbian flag at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. His former rival, Andy Roddick, thinks that if Djokovic continues to prolong his career and ends up playing in the next Olympic edition, it would be a “smart” move to express his loyalty toward Serbia. Roddick said on his Served podcast:

Him saying I want to retire at the 2028 Olympics with a Serbian flag in my hand was the perfect way to address many, many issues that are going on right now. The never-ending question of when are you going to retire? When I want to! I like it, I enjoy it, and I’m getting paid $100 100million a year. Oh, and by the way, I made the semis of four Slams this year.

Last year at the Paris Olympics, Djokovic fulfilled his dream of winning the gold medal after a three-set triumph over Carlos Alcaraz. It was also the last time he won a Big Title. That win for his country, Djokovic said, was the best moment of his career, and since that win, he has time and again expressed his wish to represent Serbia in the Los Angeles Olympics.

Novak Djokovic says his 2017 injury was a slap in the face

Novak Djokovic recently sat for an interview with Piers Morgan, who asked him about the time he thinks he was at his prime. Djokovic said the year between 2015 and 2026 was his best phase of his career, thanks to his consistency.

He thinks that when athletes are in their prime, they are in the zone, but reaching that state of mind is tough; but eventually, it “crashes down”. The 24-time Grand Slam champion featured in 17 consecutive finals between 2015 and 2016, emerging triumphant in 13 finals. After winning the 2016 French Open, Djokovic started to experience a slump in form before he suffered an elbow injury that kept him on the sidelines for months.

That’s also quite a dangerous place to be mentally and emotionally, because you’re like, ‘I can play every week, I don’t get tired, nobody can beat me, ’ so your ego grows, and then the natural cycle of the waves has come to the point of decline, and then it hits you harder than ever. That’s when I had the biggest injury of my career, which was my elbow; I had an operation, and was out of the tour for almost a year. That was a big slap in my face.

Novak Djokovic added

The Hellenic Championship was Djokovic’s second title of the season, following the Geneva Open, where he became the third man in the history of the Open Era to win 100 or more singles titles, joining Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.

Apart from the two ATP 250 events, the 38-year-old also played the Miami Open final but couldn’t end his Masters 1000 title drought, losing to Jakub Mensik in straight sets. In Grand Slam events, Djokovic made the semifinals of the four events, losing twice to Jannik Sinner (French Open and Wimbledon), once to Carlos Alcaraz (US Open), while at the Australian Open, an injury forced him to give the walkover to Alexander Zverev.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Tactfully Refuses to Pick the Greatest Tennis Player

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