Novak Djokovic Aims for Continued Tennis Dominance Inspired by Legendary Athletes

Novak Djokovic has reaffirmed his commitment to prolonging his tennis career, citing inspiration from fellow sports legends LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady. The 38-year-old, who boasts 24 Grand Slam titles, spoke about his ambitions during the Joy Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he is participating in the Six Kings Slam exhibition alongside Jannik Sinner and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

"Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go," Djokovic stated. He highlighted the remarkable careers of other athletes who have extended their peak performance into their late 30s and 40s, saying, "If you look across all global sports — LeBron James is still going strong at 40, Cristiano Ronaldo too, and Tom Brady played into his mid-40s. It's unbelievable. They're inspiring me as well. So I want to keep going, and that's one of my motivations."

Djokovic, who last secured a Grand Slam title in 2023 and currently ranks world No. 5, expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing transformation within tennis. "I want to keep playing to see the change that's coming for our sport," he remarked. "I'm super excited about it. Tennis will be greatly transformed, and I want to be part of that change — not just as a spectator, but as a player."

Earlier this year, Djokovic celebrated his 100th career title in Geneva. When questioned about younger competitors like Sinner and Alcaraz potentially pushing him into retirement, he responded with a smile, "I'm sorry to disappoint them — it's just not happening."

As Djokovic continues to compete at the highest level, his focus remains on chasing new milestones and influencing the sport's evolution for years to come.