Could Novak Djokovic’s career end sooner than expected? After many interviews in which the Serbian super champion, despite his 36 years of age, confirmed his “hunger” for tennis and his desire to rewrite the records of the discipline, a sibylline declaration arrives that casts many doubts about his competitive future. In an interview given to Tennis MajorsNovak said he was doubtful about his future as his body is unable to recover from ailments as it used to, suggesting that the end of his extraordinary tennis adventure could come even sooner than expected.
“When I said in another interview that things aren’t the same anymore, I was referring to the way my body manages to recover. I have more and more difficulties, I feel pain more frequently and the truth is that something always happens, almost every week I have a physical problem. I don’t know how long I will stay motivated considering this and the fact that I have already achieved almost everything that can be achieved in the world of tennis. I am very honest, I have repeatedly asked myself the question of how much longer I will feel the competitive fire that drives me to continue. Right now, the desire is still there. But I’m 36 and things can change quickly. The history of this sport is still in play, almost in every tournament I can break a record, but I still want to continue.”
The arrival of young rivals is on the one hand a stimulus, but also an observation of the passing of time. “More and more young people are emerging, the competition is growing. I feel I need to set clear goals for myself and design a clear path to achieve them. We’ll see how much longer I want to continue pushing myself to the limit to try and win.”
It is the first time that the Serbian has spoken so openly about his end of career, which he sees as linked to physical resistance combined with motivation. Who knows if he wins the 23rd Grand Slam, which would put him ahead of Nadal as all-time record holder in Major tournaments, the end of his career could actually approach.
