Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has made the stunning revelation that he intends to continue competing at the highest level into his forties, with his sights firmly set on defending his Olympic singles title at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Athens Victory Amid Physical Challenges
The 24-time Grand Slam champion recently secured the Hellenic Championship in Athens while wearing protective strapping on his shoulder, highlighting the physical challenges he's faced this season. Djokovic defeated world number nine Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a hard-fought final that demonstrated his enduring competitive spirit.
This triumph marked the 101st ATP title of Djokovic's extraordinary career, though his withdrawal from the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin underscores the physical toll of maintaining elite performance. The Serbian legend reached semi-finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments this year but has only appeared in one final since his remarkable three-major haul in 2023.
Golden Ambitions for Los Angeles 2028
Following his Athens victory, the 38-year-old addressed questions about his future in the sport with characteristic ambition. "I've always had this throughout my life and my career," Djokovic explained. "I've always had a schedule in my head for a year or more, what I want, how I want it."
Djokovic will turn 41 just two months before the LA Games commence, making his Olympic aspiration particularly remarkable. His motivation stems from representing Serbia, as he revealed: "Since I've achieved absolutely all possible goals, I said about the 2028 Olympics because I wanted to play for so many more years. So maybe ending up at the Olympic Games with the Serbian flag, that would be nice."
Joining Tennis Immortality
Djokovic's Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal victory over Carlos Alcaraz (7-6, 7-6) cemented his place among tennis legends who have achieved the Golden Slam - winning all four major singles titles plus Olympic singles gold. He joins an exclusive club of just five players in tennis history to accomplish this feat.
The elite group includes:
- Steffi Graf - who remarkably won all five in the same year (1988)
- Andre Agassi - completed the set by winning the French Open in 1999
- Rafael Nadal - achieved the Golden Slam with his 2010 US Open victory
- Serena Williams - the only player to achieve Golden Slams in both singles and doubles
Despite his ambitious plans, Djokovic remains realistic about the challenges ahead, admitting "There are some things that are not entirely in my control. I'm trying to be as healthy as possible mentally and physically." His determination to extend his career into a fourth decade continues to redefine what's possible in modern tennis.
