Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic has hinted that his storied career might come to an earlier close than expected, admitting that the physical demands and recurring injuries of elite competition are taking
their toll.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who finally achieved his long-cherished dream of winning Olympic gold in Paris last year, was recently forced to withdraw from the ATP Finals in Turin due to an ongoing injury, cutting short what had been another impressive season.
Djokovic confirmed the decision through social media, writing:
“I was really looking forward to competing in Turin and giving my best, but after today’s final in Athens, I’m sad to share that I need to withdraw due to an ongoing injury. I’m truly sorry to the fans who were hoping to see me play – your support means so much.”
The withdrawal came just a day after Djokovic captured his 101st career title at the ATP 250 in Athens, defeating Lorenzo Musetti in a thrilling three-set final.
Reflecting on his long-term goals, Djokovic admitted that his plan to continue competing until the 2028 Olympic Games may now be in doubt.
Novak answer to my question about Olympics 2028. Here is the video with english subtitles, sorry for bad angle, not easy in the full press room.
“I would like to end it at Olympics with serbian flag.” #NovakDjokovic #Olympics pic.twitter.com/lfZOP9Jscg
— Nemanja Stanojcic (@Awax92) November 10, 2025
“Since I’ve achieved almost every goal in tennis, I mentioned the 2028 Olympics because I wanted to play for many more years,” he said.
“But I don’t know – there are some things beyond my control. I’m trying to stay as healthy as possible, both mentally and physically.”
At 38, Djokovic remains at the pinnacle of world tennis but acknowledges that maintaining peak performance has become increasingly challenging.
After a year that has been hampered by injuries, it is hard to believe that the Serb will continue to play for another three seasons to make that appearance in the Olympics, unless he plays an even more limited tournament schedule in a bid to try and reach his endgame in the summer of 2028.
