Novak Djokovic revealed that he seeks to enjoy a prolonged career as the Serbian tennis icon looks to emulate the feat of legendary names from other sports including the likes o LeBron James, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Tom Brady, who have thrived in their respective fields despite advancing age.
Despite turning 38, the 24-time Grand Slam winner has demonstrated signs of pushing on as he goes in search of the Major crown that would put him clear of everyone in the sports history.
“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go,” Djokovic said.
“If you see across all the global sports, LeBron James, he’s still going strong, he’s 40, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady played till he was 40-something years old,” he added.
“I mean, it’s unbelievable. They’re inspiring me as well. So I want to keep going and that’s one of the motivations I have.”
With the evolution of tennis knocking on the sport’s door, Djokovic showed his eagerness to be a part of the future.
“I want to also live to see, live meaning still keep on playing professionally, to see the change that is coming for our sport,” he said.
“And I’m super excited about it. I feel like tennis is a sport that can be greatly, and will be greatly transformed,” Djokovic, who won his 100th career title in Geneva this year, said.
“I want to be part of that change. I want to be not just part of that change, but I want to be playing when we kind of rejuvenate our sport and set the new platform that is going to go on for decades to come.”
When quizzed if the younger players, including the likes of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, will need to beat him into retirement, Nole, as he is fondly known, stated, “I’m sorry to disappoint them, it’s just not happening.”
Djokovic is in Saudi Arabia where he faces Italian Jannik Sinner on Thursday in the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition event for a place in the final against world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
