“I still want to play full Grand Slam season next year,” confessed a determined-looking Novak Djokovic in the post-match presser following his straight-set defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 US Open. A rather high benchmark he holds for himself, no doubt. Especially considering the fact that the Serb will be 39 years old next year, fans will obviously be reluctant to put too much weight in his words. But will that really be the right thing to do?

In an age group where most tennis players can hardly dream of keeping up with the crushing demands of the sport, Novak Djokovic has been sailing the rough waters confidently. Granted, with the loss to Alcaraz, the 24-time Grand Slam winner became the first player in the Open Era history to lose four Grand Slam semifinals in a season. But hey, standing on the edge of 40 and doing what Novak is doing is nothing short of remarkable. 

So, what makes Djokovic’s big dreams so incredible?

The historical benchmark

Even at 38, he didn’t flinch in naming the challenge: age is creeping in. “It’s just age, the wear-and-tear of the body,” Djokovic admitted after being overpowered by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semi, marking the first time since 2017 he missed the final at SW19. He wasn’t placing blame; he was facing reality. Yet, if you line up his numbers, Djokovic is already outpacing legends in the same late-career lane.

Let’s look at how the elite bunch fared around 38–40:

• Roger Federer largely stepped away from deep Slam runs around age 38, retiring from Grand Slams after the Australian Open 2020.
  
• Rafael Nadal managed only sporadic Slam appearances in his late 30s—minimal play, minimal deep runs.
  
• Serena Williams, in her late 30s, kept a packed schedule but didn’t make lasting Slam pushes as she neared 39.
  
• Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi both retired their schedules significantly well before 40.
  

By contrast, Djokovic, at 38 and approaching 39, is still reaching semifinals in all four Grand Slams, the oldest man in the Open Era to do so in a single year. 

Djokovic’s ageless edge

Numbers speak volumes. Djokovic’s Slam titles past the age of 35 already outshine those of Federer (4), Nadal (3), and Serena (3). He’s won 6+, setting a new standard for longevity. And it’s not just titles. His win-loss record after 35 remains among the best of the Open Era—most players fade after that point, but Djokovic keeps outpacing them.

He’s racked up more finals and semifinal appearances post-35 than his peers at the same age. After turning 35 on May 22, 2022, Novak has won 13 titles, 4 Slams, and the elusive Olympic gold. His tally: 136–26 (84.0%), nearly Federer’s win rate. Even in March this year, Djokovic was still ranked as the World No. 1, making him the second-oldest world No. 1 in history, following only Federer. 

In 2023, Novak won three majors to become the world No. 1 once again. However, in 2024, he had nothing much to show for except the Olympic triumph, bringing down his ranking to No. 7, his worst year since 2017.

Roger Federer won three Grand Slams but couldn’t bag any ATP Finals after turning 35. Nadal's injury-laden post-35 tenure wasn’t the most memorable. In contrast, Djokovic already has four Grand Slams, one ATP Finals title, and a slew of Masters victories after reaching the 35 milestone. 

A table to summarize the Big Three’s post-35 stats will help with better comprehension.

What makes Novak Djokovic different

Physical durability: Djokovic isn’t pretending his body doesn’t feel it—he even conceded that best-of-five matches have become “a real struggle.” Yet he adapts. In 2025, he claimed his 100th ATP Tour singles title in Geneva—becoming just the third man ever to do so and the third-oldest to win a Tour title. He’s the first player to win a title in 20 consecutive seasons—that’s something extraordinary right there.

Mental resilience and motivation: Djokovic still loves the fight. After the Wimbledon loss, he said he doesn’t plan for that to be his final Centre Court moment. “Hopefully it’s not my last match on Centre Court… I plan to come back at least one more time,” he said. That kind of fire, past 35, is rare.

The bigger picture: What’s at stake in 2026

Come 2026, Djokovic’s 39-year-old campaign isn't just a matter of competing—it’s a launch into completely uncharted territories:

• He’s in reach of his 25th or even 26th Grand Slam.
  
• He stands to extend or redefine records for the oldest Slam champion, most Slam semifinals or finals played, weeks at No. 1, and more.
  
• His longevity keeps fueling the GOAT debate—not just by past trophies, but by sheer endurance and consistency.
  
• Think Tom Brady and LeBron James—sports greats who redefined what “late-career prime” even means. Djokovic is mapping that template in tennis.

Hence proven, that at 39, Djokovic isn’t merely chasing history—he’s out to shatter it, rewriting the playbook on what a champion can achieve when time itself becomes the ultimate adversary.

Written by

Diptarko Paul

Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta