Novak Djokovic has admitted he is in the process of writing the final chapters of his career and the emotions of the next few weeks could be crucial in deciding when he retires.
Having achieved tennis’ last great goal of winning an Olympic gold medal earlier this month with a win over Carlos Alcaraz in the Paris 2024 final, Djokovic will be wondering what happens next as he prepares for the final few months of the year.
Djokovic struggled with motivation and suffered some unexpected defeats earlier this year, but bounced back with a brave win in a tough match at the French Open.
His performance at Roland Garros was ended by a knee injury that required surgery on 5 June, but he recovered remarkably quickly and played at Wimbledon, reaching the final, where he lost to Alcaraz.
Djokovic then bounced back to deliver a passionate performance to win Olympic gold for Serbia and complete his record of winning every major title in tennis.
“In 2012, I thought raising the flag at the Opening Ceremony was the best feeling I could have as an athlete, until this day,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said.
“This exceeds everything I ever imagined, experienced or hoped to feel. The fact that I won a bronze medal in my first Olympics and then didn’t win a medal despite being in the semi-finals three times since then made that obstacle insurmountable.
“Now I’m 37 and I beat a 21-year-old who is probably the best player in the world right now. All things considered, this is probably the biggest sporting success of my career.”
Djokovic’s declaration that he has everything he wants in a tennis career raises the question of how long the greatest player of all time will continue to play at the highest level.
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He has openly admitted that competing in ATP Masters Series events is no longer the driving force behind his ambitions, and with Olympic dreams no longer in sight, what else can Djokovic aspire to?
Djokovic has won more Grand Slam titles than any other man in the history of tennis and has been ranked number one in the world for more than two years longer than any other player, so what’s left for him now?
He may extend his lead in the Grand Slam title race and be aiming to tie Roger Federer’s all-time record with an eighth Wimbledon title next summer, but those achievements will not define his legend.
Djokovic has earned his place in the record books as the greatest tennis player of all time with victories over Rafael Nadal and Federer, and now that his Olympic dream has come true, he admits he’s wondering what comes next.
“It’s done,” he said of his career, “I’ve accomplished all my accomplishments with this gold medal, but I love this sport. I don’t just play to win tournaments.”
“I love competing, I play to get in shape and perfect my game. This sport has given me so much in my life and I try to give back to the sport with the dedication and sacrifice I make on the court when no one is watching.”
“I work hard just like every other young player, so these successes are not a coincidence.
“You never know what the future holds. I’ve worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this moment. Now is a time of happiness, joy and celebration.”
Djokovic needs to return to hard courts soon as he prepares to defend his U.S. Open title, but will not play in any warm-up matches after withdrawing from the Toronto and Cincinnati Masters tournaments.
The Serb has proven time and time again that he is far from powerless in any tournament, but with Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner seemingly one step ahead of Djokovic throughout 2024, for the first time in many years Djokovic may not arrive in New York as the US Open title favourite.
Beating Alcaraz in a three-set match that meant more to him than any in recent memory is an achievement he will forever cherish, but can Djokovic win a Grand Slam title with the young players chasing him closely?
The great man will have the answer to that dilemma when he steps onto the court for the first time at the US Open, because even the great Djokovic can be pushed aside by younger rivals if he loses motivation for even a moment on the biggest stage in tennis.
If Djokovic ever returns to the court and no longer feels the drive and passion to continue striving for perfection, he likely won’t wait long to acknowledge that the sport he loved and perfected has given him everything he needs.