Every champion faces the clock. But Novak Djokovic looks at it differently. Inspired by the longevity of sports legends, the 38-year-old Serbian superstar is rewriting the rules of what it means to age in tennis, proving that motivation and preparation can outweigh the years. 

If we take a look at some of his staggering numbers, he has been ranked as the world number one in men’s singles for a record of 428 weeks and finished the year as the world number one for a record 8 times in his career. Despite all this, and also having won 100 ATP Tour-level singles titles, Djokovic is showing no signs of stopping any sooner. However, the Serb didn’t have a season as per his standards (winning just one title so far), but so what?

Just before starting his match against Jannik Sinner at the Six Kings Slam SF, Novak Djokovic made a very interesting statement during his pre-match interview. When he was asked why he wasn’t thinking about retirement, he said, “Longevity is one of my most important motivations. I want to see how far I can go, how much I can play. I admit that seeing greats from other sports like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Tom Brady still playing even though they are 40 years old is very motivating for me. I also want to see the changes that are coming to our sport. I believe that tennis will transform in the next few years, and I want to still be playing when that happens.” Djokovic said that he wants to contribute to the development of tennis.

Having said that, he also sent a clear message to those people who want him to retire quickly, and that message is, “That is not going to happen!”

Djokovic has been time and again compared with NBA star LeBron James in the past. For example, in 2021 during an interview with CNN, Nick Kyrgios admitted, “He is one of our leaders of our sport. He’s technically our LeBron James in the way he has to be setting an example for all tennis players.” Then earlier this year, American legend John McEnroe also stated that he considers Novak Djokovic as the “LeBron James of tennis.” 

So, for Djokovic, comparisons to basketball superstar James have become more than just casual media headlines. Just as LeBron James continues to dominate basketball well past the expected prime years, Djokovic intends to redefine what is possible for a tennis player approaching 40. 

In an era where athletic careers are often cut short by age or injury, Novak Djokovic’s dedication and admiration for icons in other sports stand as a testament: greatness isn’t bound by years—it’s fuelled by vision, preparation, and inspiration. What does the tennis world think about his longevity in tennis, though?

Even Taylor Fritz thinks there is no reason for Novak Djokovic to think about retirement

Seeing Novak Djokovic’s ups and downs over the past two seasons, there have been mixed reactions coming in when it comes to sharing thoughts on the Serb’s longevity in tennis. For example, on one side, tennis legends like Rennae Stubbs recently predicted Djokovic to retire at the 2026 Australian Open. But then, on the other side, players like Taylor Fritz and Juan Martin del Potro have something else to say on this topic. 

According to the Argentine, Djokovic still has a chance of winning major titles. Recently, during an interview with Tennis 365, Fritz claimed, “He hasn’t really shown too many signs of slowing down. He obviously has had a great year, semis at every Grand Slam. It’s tough to even think about him retiring or being done soon when he is producing the level he is producing.”

Amid all these mixed opinions, former pro Robbie Koenig shared some advice for the former world number one. During one of the recent episodes of the Inside-In podcast, he heaped praise on Novak Djokovic, saying that it’s remarkable to see what he has been doing over the years. “I’m still gobsmacked at what I see,” said Koenig.

But still he wanted him to work more on one particular aspect during the off-season. “My biggest takeaway is, I wonder exactly how much cardio work he’s been doing? I said it the whole year, even when I saw him playing in Australia. I just get the feeling, and this is me guessing, I don’t know, but is he more concerned about keeping the body healthy and not working quite so much on the cardio side? Is he neglecting that a little bit because he wants to stay injury-free?” said the South African.

According to him, this is one of the things that is putting him slightly behind physically in comparison to all the players. So, all he wants, Djokovic, is to push more in his cardio sessions, and he feels that’s the only fine-tuning he needs at the moment. What are your opinions on this, though?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta