Novak Djokovic Explains What Motivates Him to Continue to Compete on the Tour at 38

Novak Djokovic to open his Rolex Shanghai Masters campaign against Marin Cilic in the second round.

Novak Djokovic Explains What Motivates Him to Continue to Compete on the Tour at 38

Novak Djokovic (via X/Olly Tennis)

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Novak Djokovic has virtually won everything as a professional tennis player, yet continues to compete for more on tour. The 38-year-old is currently the active player with the most titles, having claimed his 100th at the Geneva Open in May. He recently revealed what motivates him to keep participating in tournaments.

Djokovic is currently in Shanghai for the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in China. The World No.4 is competing at the tournament for the second consecutive year after having been absent from 2019 to 2023. He is the record title-holder at the event, having won the title four times: in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018. It is his first tournament since the US Open last month.

He will open his account at the tournament against former World No.3 Marin Cilic and it will be their 22nd tour-level meeting and first since 2022. Djokovic leads the former US Open champion 19-2 in their head-to-head record. The winner between Djokovic and Cilic will face Yannick Hanfmann in the third round.

In Shanghai, Djokovic is seeking to win his 101st tour-level title. The last time he won a Masters 1000 title was in Paris in 2023 after beating Grigor Dimitrov, and he’s the only player to have a Career Golden Masters, having won all nine ATP 1000 tournaments. He claimed his 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Djokovic was asked about his motivation on tour during his press conference in Shanghai. The former World No.1 revealed that despite losing to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in Grand Slam tournaments this season, he still finds reasons to compete on tour:

It’s frustrating to lose big matches to the world’s strongest players, but that doesn’t stop me. I don’t play tennis just for the trophies. There are other reasons why I continue. One of them is the love and support I receive all over the world. And the hope that my participation in major tournaments will help tennis grow as a sport. That motivates me. I get goosebumps every time I step onto the court and hear people chanting my name. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Djokovic is projected to face Sinner in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters. He lost to the Italian star in the final last year, which made Sinner become the youngest champion at the tournament. However, the 24-year-old will kick off his campaign against Daniel Altmaier on Saturday (October 4).

Novak Djokovic happy with his consistent performance this season despite missing out on Grand Slam titles

Novak Djokovic reached the semi-finals of all the Grand Slam tournaments this season but failed to progress to the final. It was the first time since 2017 that he failed to reach a major final in a season. He lost to Jannik Sinner at the French Open and Wimbledon Championships, while falling to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open.

Novak Djokovic (via X/Djokovic fan)
Novak Djokovic (via X/Djokovic fan)

At the Australian Open, he retired due to an injury against Alexander Zverev. During the aforementioned press conference, Djokovic revealed that his run at the Grand Slam events this season speaks volumes of his consistency on the court:

Aside from the matches I lost to two of the world’s best players, I think I played very good tennis at Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the semifinals of each one. That speaks volumes about my level and consistency, and of course, I’m happy with that. But there’s always a winner inside me who wants to be the best.

Djokovic is yet to give an official statement on when he will retire, but there are indications that he’s drawing closer to quitting the sport. The 38-year-old has featured in a few events since the first quarter of the year and has taken more time to be with his family and friends.

Also Read: Iga Swiatek Dismisses Injury Concerns After China Open Defeat to Emma Navarro