Nick Kyrgios used the moment after his early exit in Brisbane to look away from his own result and talk about the bigger picture in tennis. His focus was on Novak Djokovic and what his continued presence at the top of the world means for the sport.
Djokovic is now 38 years old and still remains one of the defining figures in men’s tennis. In 2025, he reached four major semifinals, won two ATP 250 titles and finished the season in the top 4 for the 17th time. Just a few months before his 39th birthday, he remains motivated to pursue big goals and expand his already unique career.
Kyrgios demands appreciation for an extraordinary career phase
For Kyrgios, precisely this consequence is a value that should be consciously perceived. He sees Djokovic as a rare example of how far sporting ambition can reach beyond common boundaries. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have already left, and Kyrgios describes men’s tennis as a phase with a noticeable gap that only Djokovic is currently filling. If he leaves too, an era would be over for good.
For 2026, Djokovic should try to manage his body wisely to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on the biggest stage. In 2025 he didn’t achieve this to the extent he had intended, but a new season offers a new opportunity. Djokovic actually wanted to start the year at the ATP 250 tournament in Adelaide, but withdrew and took additional days without matches after persistent physical problems.
Kyrgios made his stance clear: “Obviously there is something that Novak wants to achieve, whether it is another major or something else. I think we should appreciate that someone of this age is still at the top of our sport and is giving everything for it. The longer we have players like that around us, the better it is for our sport. Since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal left, there is a gap. If Novak leaves, this era will be completely over. I want him to last as long as possible stays.”
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