Novak Djokovic has admitted he could play well into his 40s after saying he might continue “another 15 years”. The Serbian superstar opened up on his life and tennis career in a new documentary.
Aged 39, Djokovic has won everything possible in the sport and shattered records. He holds the most Grand Slam titles, most Masters 1000 trophies, and the most weeks at No. 1 in the world.
Djokovic on his future
The age-old retirement question has been posed virtually every time Djokovic has played in the last few years. But the 24-time Major champion has now admitted that he himself has no clue how long he’ll keep going – and he could still be on the court well into his 40s.
In his new Prime Video documentary, Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, the current world No. 5 admitted that he would keep competing as long as he could stay at the top.
“I truly feel still young. I don’t know when I’m going to finish my career,” the Olympic champion explained. “It might be another year, it might be another 15 years, I don’t know. As long as I have the drive, the passion, but most of all, as long as I feel like I can win tournaments and I can be one of the best players in the world, I want to keep going.”
Doubting himself and retirement noise
Djokovic also has a point to prove. “The number one doubter is here,” he added, pointing to himself. “I’m the number one doubter, and I’m trying to prove myself wrong more than anyone else.”
The 39-year-old also questioned why there was constant noise surrounding his eventual retirement, given how much he continues to achieve in the sport. “I have no date in my mind, to be honest, the expiry date of my career,” he explained.
“I know a lot of people are speculating that, a lot of people are retiring me already for many years. Why would you want to retire me when I’m still playing and I’m still competing at the highest level? I’m still top five, top 10 in the world. Why would I talk about retirement when I keep proving to myself that I can still win?”
Family and former coach weigh in
Djokovic’s wife of 12 years, Jelena, also has no idea when he will retire. But she knows that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for the world No. 5 to leave their two children behind when he competes. “Everybody is asking him, ‘When are you going to retire?’ And all of that. He definitely has mixed feelings about his retirement. This is the biggest decision of his life,” she said.
“One side of him is excited because there is so much to do in this world, and then there is, ‘Hey, but I love what I’ve achieved, I feel like I can push longer, should I, because this might not be the best thing for my family?’”
While Djokovic could be out on the court for another few years, his former coach, tennis icon Andre Agassi, had a message for the 39-year-old. “I would hope for him that he doesn’t wait too long, not because he can’t win anymore, but because tennis takes your childhood, but then it gives you a chance to be done with your success so that you can raise your children without the preoccupations,” he said.
