Novak Djokovic drops bombshell on the tennis future amid the popularity of padel and pickleball

Novak Djokovic is chasing a historic 41st Masters 1000 title and a 100th ATP title this week at the Miami Masters.

Novak Djokovic drops bombshell on the tennis future amid the popularity of padel and pickleball

Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Giovanni Pelazzo)

Novak Djokovic shared his thoughts on the growing popularity of padel and pickleball. He also spoke about his goal of winning the Miami Open and reaching 100 career singles titles.

After his 6-0, 7-6(1) win over Rinky Hijikata, Djokovic looked in great form and high spirits. During his press conference, he was asked about the rise of these racket sports.

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I believe that in the future, at least recreationally, tennis clubs will turn into racket clubs, honestly. Seeing the growing popularity of pickleball in this country, and especially paddle tennis globally… it’s huge, and I think, for example, paddle tennis is a great sport for recreational players who may have never held a racket before. It’s easier to teach and play than tennis, and it’s fun, it’s a social activity. I think the future of clubs is a hybrid of all these sports. At a professional and competitive level, I’m not sure. I think seeing the future of these sports, also on a professional level, will be exciting. We have to see if people are interested in watching the tournaments or not, but paddle tennis is growing very rapidly.

Novak Djokovic said in his post-match press conference

Padel and pickleball are becoming more common at tennis and sports clubs. The Paris Padel Major, a top padel event, takes place every September at Philippe Chatrier, the main stadium of Roland Garros.

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Obviously, I believe tennis should remain the king or queen of racket sports, it’s the one that attracts more people and we have great tournaments, but it’s interesting. It could be fun to have a kind of mixed racket sports competition, where we can all try different sports and see how we do. Also, I saw, like I believe everyone did, that doctor saying that people who play racket sports live the most. So, yes, we definitely need to play racket sports (smiles).

Novak Djokovic added

Last year at Wimbledon, Djokovic was asked if these sports could threaten tennis. He believed they could because tennis is harder to sustain financially.

Novak Djokovic optimistic about landing a 100th ATP title

Serbian legend Novak Djokovic is just one title away from reaching 100 career singles titles. He would become the third man in the Open Era to achieve this, following Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

In Miami, of course. No doubts. I would love to celebrate my 100th title here. We’ll see, it’s a long tournament. This is only the first victory. It gives me confidence, lets me know that I can play this way, but the road is long. I hope to finish well and be in a position to fight for the title, it would be amazing.

Novak Djokovic said in his post-match press conference

The Serbian star has won six Miami Open titles and hopes to reach the milestone soon. His next match will be against Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the third round. Since the ATP Finals in 2023, Djokovic has won only one title. His victory came at the Paris Olympics, where he secured the Olympic gold medal.

With this win, Djokovic completed the Career Golden Slam. He became one of the few players to win all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold in his career.

Novak Djokovic ties Rafael Nadal’s historic record

Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic began his Miami Open campaign with a strong win against Australia’s Rinky Hijikata. He secured a 6-0, 7-6 (1) victory on Friday. This marked his 410th career win at a Masters 1000 event, tying Rafael Nadal for the all-time record.

Novak Djokovic (2)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Jose Moron)

The Masters 1000 tournaments started in 1990, and Djokovic already holds several records at this level. He has the most titles (40), finals (59), and semifinals (78). After three consecutive losses, including an early exit in Indian Wells, he was eager to return to form. He dominated the first set in just 27 minutes.

Hijikata put up a better fight in the second set, holding serve throughout. But in the tie-break, Djokovic stepped up, quickly taking a 6-1 lead and sealing the match with a powerful ace. He finished with 21 winners and only 12 unforced errors, with his backhand and serve playing a key role.

Djokovic will now face Argentinian lucky loser Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the third round. Carabelli advanced by defeating No. 32 seed Alex Michelsen in three sets. A win for Djokovic would give him the all-time record for most Masters 1000 match wins, surpassing Nadal.