Novak Djokovic Reiterates He Has No Plans to Retire in Near Future: “Don’t Play Tennis Just for Achievements”

Even though Novak Djokovic has time and again expressed his wish to keep prolonging his career, he is not able to beat time because athletes have a limit, and after a certain point in time, form and injury problems start to affect them a great deal. Even Djokovic, without a shadow of doubt, is grappling with the same problem and knows it perfectly well that he cannot deny the fact that he is slowing down.

Though he has accepted that he cannot always remain nearly invincible, he still doesn’t want to hang up his racket. He has given hints about retirement, but he also wants to play the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Djokovic said during an interview with SDNA:

Many thought that after the Olympic Games, after winning gold, I would end my career. But I don’t play tennis just for the achievements. Of course, they are a big part of my motivation, but I also play tennis because I genuinely enjoy competing.

Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz to clinch his career’s first gold medal in the Paris Olympics last year. It’s the last Big Title Djokovic has lifted, given that since then, he has lost two Masters 1000 finals and also failed to go beyond the semifinals of this year’s Grand Slam events.

I enjoy the process and everything that tennis brings to me: to me personally, to my family, but also what I bring to tennis as long as I remain an active professional.

Novak Djokovic added

Djokovic has relocated to Athens and will feature in the first edition of the Hellenic Championship, where he will be up against someone who has defeated him in their previous two matches. It’s Chilean ace Alejandro Tabilo, who overcame Australia’s Adam Walton in the previous round.

Vladimir Voltchkov heaps praise on Novak Djokovic

Former player from Belarus, Vladimir Voltchkov, thinks Novak Djokovic has dealt with a tremendous amount of pressure because of his choices. During an interview with The Tennis Gazette, Voltchkov pointed out how, in the face of adversity, he showed resilience and determination, which eventually paid off.

I don’t believe there’s been another tennis player in history who has been under so much pressure. Going through all those crazy COVID years, not letting the guy go in the country, then he comes back and takes the title. He’s just extraordinary. This guy is a hero, this guy is a legend.

Djokovic was deported from Australia in 2022 because of his unvaccinated status. In the following year, he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to win his record 10th title in the Major Down Under.

The last time Djokovic played an official match was at the Shanghai Masters, where eventual winner Valentin Vacherot knocked him out in straight sets. The 24-time Grand Slam champion then made his second appearance at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Riyadh, where, just like last year, eventual champion Jannik Sinner denied him the win in the semifinals. Djokovic later withdrew mid-match during his third-place match against Taylor Fritz.

After the Riyadh exhibition, the 38-year-old skipped the Paris Masters, where in 2023, he lifted his last Masters 1000 title of his career. Djokovic could make his appearance at the ATP Finals for the first time since 2023 (won it by beating Sinner). The ATP Finals starts on November 9.

So far this season, Nole has won only one title- the ATP 250 Geneva Open by beating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, and this made him only the third man in the Open Era to reach the 100-title tally in singles. He also reached the final of the Miami Open but failed to beat Jakub Mensik.

Also read: Jasmine Paolini Hopes to Improve on her Game after Aryna Sabalenka’s Demolition at the WTA Finals

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW