Djokovic inspired by LeBron and Brady: He wants to play until he’s 40

Djokovic draws inspiration from LeBron James and others to extend his career

Tennis player Novak Djokovic revealed that he is motivated by figures like LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the aim of extending his professional career until the age of 40.

Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go.

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic, speaking at the Joy Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prior to his participation in the Six Kings Slam, highlighted the relevance of athletes like LeBron James, who is still competing at 40 years old, and Cristiano Ronaldo. He also mentioned Tom Brady, who played until he was 40, as a source of inspiration. Despite not having won a Grand Slam title for two years, 38-year-old Djokovic is not considering retirement. His goal is to win a 25th Grand Slam title to set a new record. Djokovic’s comments contrast with previous statements after being eliminated in major tournaments. After losing in the French Open semi-finals, he suggested it could be “the last match” at Roland Garros. After his defeat in the US Open semi-finals, he lamented the possibility of not being able to beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in five-set tournaments. However, Djokovic has expressed his intention to participate in all four Grand Slams in 2026, which could extend his career until 2027, surpassing the age of 40. Djokovic, co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association in 2020, also seeks to influence the sport for its improvement. The prominent players are pressuring the Grand Slams for a greater share of revenue, and the PTPA has filed lawsuits against tennis governing bodies to push for changes.

I want to live to see, to live in the sense of continuing to play professionally, what’s coming for our sport, and I’m very excited about it.

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic added that he hopes to be part of the transformation of tennis in the coming years.