I don’t want to leave this sport if I’m still at the top: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has expressed his intention to continue his professional tennis career for as long as his competitive prowess allows, following his remarkable achievement of clinching his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open on Sunday.
The 36-year-old tennis maestro secured this historic win by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, a victory that positioned him alongside Margaret Court’s unparalleled record for the most major singles titles.
It’s worth noting that a significant portion of Djokovic’s Grand Slam victories have materialized since he celebrated his 30th birthday, underscoring his enduring excellence in the sport. Furthermore, he has triumphed in seven out of the last ten major tournaments he has participated in, reaffirming his status as a dominant force in the world of tennis.”I’m going to keep going. You know, I feel good in my own body. I still feel I got the support of my environment, of my team, of my family,” said Djokovic.
“Grand Slams… have been always the highest goal and the priority of mine in the whole season. I don’t play as much in terms of other tournaments, so I try to, you know, prioritise my preparation so that I can peak in Slams.”
Djokovic is set to reclaim the world number one ranking on Monday, extending his record to an impressive 390 weeks at the top, surpassing Alcaraz.

Alcaraz stands alone as the sole player who managed to defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam this year.
Alcaraz’s memorable five-set victory in the Wimbledon final thwarted Djokovic’s aspirations of achieving a calendar Grand Slam, briefly sparking speculation about a change of the guard in the tennis world. However, any premature notions of a torch passing in New York were swiftly dispelled as Djokovic continued to demonstrate his enduring dominance.
“Knowing that I play at such a high level still and I win the biggest tournaments in this sport, yeah, I don’t want to get rid of this sport,” said Djokovic.

(Novak Djokovic, left, and Daniil Medvedev – AFP Photo)
“I don’t want to leave this sport if I’m still at the top, if I’m still playing the way I’m playing.”
Djokovic admitted there are times he questions his future in a sport he has dominated for well over a decade.
“Occasionally asking myself, why do I need this still at this stage after all I have done, you know? How long do I want to keep going? I do have these questions in my head, of course,” he said.

However, Djokovic’s tendency to continually set higher and more ambitious goals throughout his career indicates that he has no intentions of retiring in the foreseeable future, unless his physical condition dictates otherwise.
“I don’t put any number right now in my mind on how many Slams I want to win until the end of my career. I don’t really have any number,” said Djokovic.
“I’ll continue to prioritise them as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. So that will not change. That will stay the same in the next season or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs. So let’s see.”

(Djokovic gets emotional while celebrating with daughter, Tara – AFP Photo)
In a light-hearted remark, Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic, suggested that Djokovic’s insatiable drive for success might lead him to continue competing until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Additionally, Ivanisevic emphasized that even if Djokovic were to secure victory at next year’s Australian Open, securing his 25th Grand Slam title and setting a new record, the chances of him retiring from tennis remained slim.
“He is just enjoying, he likes the challenges. Like you ask me, 25? Yeah, if he wins 25, he’s going to think ‘if I win 25, why not 26?’ It’s always one more, something more,” said Ivanisevic.