Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has been spotted taking a break from his usual court to try his hand at the increasingly popular sport of padel. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was seen enjoying a game under the Serbian sun in Belgrade this week, accompanied by four glamorous partners.
Padel Practice in the Serbian Sun
The 38-year-old Serbian legend, who hasn't played a competitive tennis match since his victory at the Hellenic Championship in early November, was captured on video posted to social media. He was seen rallying and grooving his forehand on a padel court during what appears to be a period of rest and recuperation ahead of his scheduled return to action next month.
According to reports from European publication Telegraf, Djokovic was playing with four women, three of whom have been named as Djina Mandic, Brooke Sharpe, and Jodi Ribnik. The group later posed for a wholesome picture, with his friends looking visibly elated to be receiving tips from one of the greatest athletes ever to grace a court.
Djokovic's Stark Warning About Padel's Rise
Despite being seen enjoying the sport himself, Djokovic has been openly critical of padel's rapid growth and its potential impact on tennis. Following Wimbledon in 2024, he issued a stark warning, stating that tennis is "endangered" at the club level.
"Tennis is the king or queen of all the racket sports, that's true, but on a club level tennis is endangered," Djokovic said. "If we don't do something about it, as I said, globally or collectively, padel - or pickleball in the States - they're going to convert all the tennis clubs into padel and pickleball because it's just more economical."
He highlighted the financial incentive for club owners, noting, "You have one tennis court. You can build three padel courts on one tennis court. You do the simple math. It's just much more financially viable for an owner of a club to have those courts."
Djokovic is not alone among tennis elites in trying padel. The sport has captured the interest of greats like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in recent years.
Looking Ahead: Retirement Plans and Return to Court
Despite turning 39 in May and currently being ranked World No. 4, Djokovic affirmed last month that he has no immediate plans to retire. He is set to make his competitive return next month at the Adelaide International, a tournament he won two years ago.
In a revealing interview after winning his 101st career title in Athens, Djokovic outlined a potential timeline for his farewell. He is considering saying goodbye to professional tennis after the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, by which time he will have just turned 41.
"I've always had this throughout my life and my career, I've always had a schedule in my head for a year or more," 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."
He added a note of caution regarding his future, admitting, "I really don't know. Because there are some things that are not entirely in my control. I'm trying to be as healthy as possible mentally and physically." For now, fans can enjoy seeing the champion relax and explore other racket sports before his highly anticipated return to the ATP Tour.
