“I will leave tennis in about 23, 24 years” – Djokovic not going anywhere after US Open success
After winning the US Open final on Sunday, Novak Djokovic has declared he’s not planning to leave tennis anytime soon, and will continue his focus on Grand Slams
By defeating Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final on Sunday to win his 24th Grand Slam, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic became the oldest US Open champion in history. He also becomes only the second player, after Ken Rosewall, to win multiple Grand Slams after the age of 36.
All of these numbers beg the question: how much longer can Djokovic continue?
Medvedev even jested in his post-match speech at the US Open, turning to Djokovic and saying, “I don’t know when you plan to maybe slow down a little bit?”
Speaking to the media after his US Open victory, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has given a clear answer.
“I don’t want to leave this sport” – Djokovic isn’t going anywhere
When asked a question about his longevity in his post-match press conference, and whether or not there was a passing of the torch occurring between generations at the moment in tennis, Novak Djokovic began diplomatically:
“People like to talk obviously. So there is a lot of different opinions out there.
“I mean, it’s not my interest and neither business to really review what everyone talks about or thinks, whether there is a passing of the torch or new gen, next gen, future gen, whatever you want to call it, happening or not happening in the sport.”
But quickly, the US Open winner moved from being tactful with his response, to being as direct as it gets:
“I’m going to keep going,” declared Djokovic. “I feel good in my own body. I still feel I got the support of my environment, of my team, of my family.”
“Knowing that I play at such a high level still and I win the biggest tournaments in this sport, I don’t want to leave this sport if I’m still at the top, you know, if I’m still playing the way I’m playing.”
“Eventually one day I will leave tennis in about 23, 24 years”, he laughed. “And there is going to be new young players coming up. Until then, I guess you’ll see me a bit more.”
Djokovic not targeting any specific number of Grand Slams
Given how driven Novak Djokovic is by goals and records, with the Serbian being vocal in the past about his desire to hold the most Grand Slams and weeks at No 1 in the rankings, it’s surprising that he currently doesn’t have a clear goal in mind.
“I don’t put any number right now in my mind on how many slams I want to win until the end of my career. I don’t really have any number,” explained Djokovic.
“I’ll continue to prioritize them as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. So that will not change. That will stay the same in the next season or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs. So let’s see.”
Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic, also shared on the matter, implying that we’ll be seeing plenty more of his player for years to come.
“He’s planning to play Olympic Games in Los Angeles. When is this, 2028? You know what’s going in his head,” joked Ivanisevic.
“He just enjoying, he likes the challenges. Like you ask me 25, yeah, if he wins 25, he’s going to think, If I win 25, why not 26? It’s always one more, something more.”
“He’s taking care of his body, he’s taking care of everything.”
With the 36-year-old appearing in all four Grand Slam finals in a season for the third time in his career, and winning three of them, Djokovic is playing some of the best tennis of his life. Who knows, maybe the Olympics 2028 is not so unrealistic after all.
Djokovic actually doesn’t say no. “The Olympic gold medal is one of my goals and I hope I will fulfill it before my career ends. I have to admit that my thinking goes that way: ‘So, the next Games are in Paris, if I am not done by then, then we go to L.A. It depends on numerous factors – first and foremost, do I feel in my heart and soul that I want to do it, that I am motivated when I wake up because I am a father of two children and sometimes I leave them for more than a month’. The important thing is that I have the support of my family and close ones. For how long I will keep on playing – I don’t know at this moment.”
