Novak Djokovic Shuts Down Retirement Talk, Targets Longevity into His 40s Inspired by LeBron, Ronaldo, and Brady

24-Time Grand Slam Champion Novak Djokovic Commits to Extending His Tennis Career, Citing Global Sports Legends as Motivation to Compete Against New Generation, Sinner and Alcaraz.

24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic has definitively addressed the intense speculation surrounding his retirement, laying out a clear roadmap to continue his career well into his 40s. The 38-year-old Serbian, who is currently competing in the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, stated his major motivation is to test his physical limits and extend his career, mirroring the longevity of icons from other global sports.

Emulating Sporting Legends

Djokovic revealed he draws inspiration from athletes like basketball star LeBron James, football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, and retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady, all of whom have maintained elite performance deep into their careers.

“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go,” Djokovic told Riyadh Season. “If you see across all the global sports, Lebron James he is still going strong, he is 40, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40-something years old, it is unbelievable. They are inspiring me.”

Desire to Shape the Future of Tennis

The former World No. 1 also expressed a desire to remain an active participant in the evolution of tennis, which he believes is poised for significant transformation.

“In the next couple of years, tennis is a sport that can be greatly transformed, and I want to be part of that change. I want to be playing when we rejuvenate our sport and set the new platform that is going to go on for decades to come,” he added.

Facing New Competition and Recent Setbacks

Djokovic’s commitment comes as he faces stiff competition from the next generation of stars, particularly Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The Serbian has notably failed to win a single Grand Slam title since the 2023 US Open. In 2025, he reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams but was unable to reach any final match.

In a recent setback at the Shanghai Masters, Djokovic lost to Valentin Vacherot, who went on to defeat his cousin, Arthur Rinderknech, to claim the title. Compounded by injuries over the past 18 months, the 38-year-old also lost his No. 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner at the 2024 French Open. Furthermore, he dropped out of the elite top five rankings after an astonishing run of 825 weeks at that level.

All eyes are now fixed on his performance in the coming year, watching to see if the 24-time major champion can mount a serious challenge against the seemingly unstoppable Sinner and Alcaraz.

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