For tennis players over 30, the physical demands on the court are undeniable. Although advances in training, nutrition, and recovery have prolonged careers, winning the most important titles becomes a greater challenge.
Novak Djokovic, at 36 years old, won his last Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, and at 37, he obtained the Olympic gold medal, thus completing his impressive record. However, at the beginning of the clay court season, about to turn 38, Djokovic acknowledges the difficulty of competing at the highest level, especially in best-of-five-set tournaments.
Challenges at the Summit of Tennis
The emergence of young talents like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have dominated the recent Grand Slam tournaments, has intensified the competition. Furthermore, Djokovic faces physical challenges, such as the hamstring injury that sidelined him from the Australian Open, and minor issues, such as the eye infection that affected his performance in Miami.
The tennis player must also balance his career with his family life, with children aged 10 and 7, which adds complexity to his preparation and participation in tournaments.
I’m trying to have this balancing act as I go. When I say “balancing act”, what I mean is finding a good balance between professional life and private life, and being happy with what I’m doing and how I’m doing it, and still being able to motivate myself to keep going, not only in the tournaments, but also in the practice weeks, day after day. There is no doubt that it has become more difficult [to maintain motivation] than during my entire career.
Novak Djokovic
In Miami, Djokovic showed that, at his best, he remains a formidable rival, reaching the final and displaying a high level of play. These moments give him the confidence to continue competing for the most important titles.
Djokovic focuses on the clay court season, seeking a good performance in the tournaments and preparing to arrive in optimal conditions at Roland Garros.
Djokovic has been bothered by an eye infection since the Miami Open.
Djokovic begins his participation in the Monte Carlo Masters against Alejandro Tabilo, who defeated him last year at the Rome Masters.
Despite the challenges, Djokovic doesn’t seem to have plans to retire. When asked about the possibility of retiring after winning his 100th title and a 25th Grand Slam, his answer was clear.
No, I don’t think so. Who knows. We’ll see. I still feel like I have gas left in the tank. I feel that, as I have shown, in Australia and Miami, I can still play at a high level. And that gives me satisfaction being on the court and competing. I know there’s a group of people who think I should leave tennis at the top, which I understand. Many people thought I should quit after last year’s gold medal. But let’s see what the future holds. Of course, I would love to win. If you tell me that I will win my 100th title in any of the Slams this year, I will sign it immediately. But it’s a big mountain to climb, so, be a little more humble about it and hope for the best.
Novak Djokovic
The doubts seem to have calmed down for now. “For other things, not so much,” said Djokovic. “But for tennis, currently, we are on good terms.”
