Novak Djokovic seems to be getting younger with age, doesn’t he? At 37, the Serbian legend is still one of the top players on the ATP Tour currently. Earlier this year, he achieved his elusive goal of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. However, success hasn’t come thick and fast for Djokovic this year as compared to the previous seasons. Nonetheless, he made a big revelation about the upcoming season that is set to worry the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
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Djokovic is in China where he will be seen in action at the Shanghai Masters. During an interview there, he revealed where he’ll focus the most next season. Djokovic said, “My main focus is the Slams and playing for my country. That’s what really drives me the most which of course doesn’t mean that I don’t want to play Masters events. I’ll work around my schedule and see where it fits.”
Djokovic reiterates that next year his main focus will be on the slams and also playing for Serbia. However he still expects to play some Masters too, depending on his scheduling and his preparation for the slams.
25 incoming next year for Djokovic. 🔮pic.twitter.com/pNhI2CvlBl
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) October 3, 2024
Djokovic came close to winning his 25th Grand Slam title this year at the Wimbledon Championships. However, he lost in the summit clash against Alcaraz. The Serb’s last major victory came last year at the US Open, as he became the first male player to lift 24 Grand Slam trophies. So what’s the plan forward?
Novak Djokovic on his retirement plans: ‘My love for tennis will never fade away’
Novak Djokovic has been deliberate with his schedule this year, carefully picking his battles. Despite competing in every major tournament, Djokovic has only played in three Masters tournaments before heading to the Shanghai Masters. And yet, even with fewer appearances, the Serbian legend still sits atop the ATP Masters 1000 leaderboard with a staggering 40 titles to his name—a record that speaks to his dominance. As he sets his sights on an efficient schedule, focusing mainly on the majors, it’s clear why Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who split all four major titles between them this year, will be watching their backs. Djokovic’s shadow looms large, and his presence is a reminder that he’s still very much a force to be reckoned with.
Retirement, however, seems far from his mind, even if the question keeps coming up. With Roger Federer retiring two years ago and Rafael Nadal seemingly on the brink, Djokovic is the last active titan of the “Big Three.” Naturally, people want to know when he’ll call it a career. But the Serb has no intention of hanging up his racket just yet, especially given his impressive Olympic performance that showcased just how much gas is left in his tank.
Addressing retirement speculation, Djokovic dismissed the idea with a heartfelt response: “My love for tennis will never fade away. I have a lot of emotions when I’m playing, and not particularly only in the tournament, but also practice sessions… Even when I retire from professional tennis, I feel like I’m going to stay in tennis, stay involved in, you know, in different roles, because I feel like I owe this sport a lot for what it has been giving to me.” His words echoed the sentiment of a man deeply rooted in the game—someone whose bond with tennis goes beyond the trophies and titles.
But for now, Djokovic’s eyes are locked on the Shanghai Masters, where he enters as the fourth seed, eager to make his mark as the season nears its end. Can Djokovic add another trophy to his legendary career and closeout 2024 with a statement win? Share your thoughts in the comments below!