Novak Djokovic has once again made it clear that he has no plans to retire despite advancing age and physical stress. After skipping the ATP Finals in Turin due to an injury, the 24-time Grand Slam winner emphasized: “Longevity is one of my biggest motivations and I really want to see how far I can go.”
The Serb is not only thinking about his own records, but also about the development of his sport. “I want to continue playing professionally to witness the change that is coming in tennis. I’m very excited about it. There are things happening that I can’t talk about openly at the moment, but I believe tennis will change in the next few years. I want to be part of that change – not just part of it, but I want to play as we renew our sport and build the foundation for decades to come.”
When asked about a possible retirement, Djokovic replied unequivocally: “It won’t happen. I’m sorry to disappoint you. It just won’t happen.”
Rusedski believes in one last chance at Wimbledon
Former British top player Greg Rusedski still sees great potential in Djokovic – especially on grass. “You know it’s time to stop when you’re not enjoying it anymore,” Rusedski told Tennis365. “He is still the third best player in the world, even if the rankings don’t show it.”
However, Rusedski doubts that Djokovic can still regularly beat Alcaraz and Sinner in best-of-five matches at Grand Slams. “Maybe at Wimbledon. If he still loves the challenge – why not?”
The injury-related exit in the semifinals of the Australian Open against Zverev in 2025 was particularly bitter after Djokovic had previously defeated Alcaraz. Rusedski believes: “If he gets to the final and only has to play against Sinner – anything can happen. He probably needs a bit of luck now to win another major. But I will never write off a great champion.”
