In an interview ahead of the Indian Wells tournament, legendary tennis player Djokovic affirmed that he hasn't thought about retirement yet, even though he's already turned 38.
Djokovic has no intention of retiring despite turning 28 - Photo: REUTERS
Recently, legend Novak Djokovic once again dispelled rumors about his retirement from the tennis court.
Appearing at Indian Wells with unwavering confidence, the 24-time Grand Slam champion asserted that he still has the ability to defeat the best opponents. He also stated that he sees no reason to stop, as he still has a burning desire to conquer.
Djokovic's brilliant performance at the 2026 Australian Open in January is the strongest affirmation of his status.
Djokovic's dramatic victory over world number 2 Jannik Sinner in the semi-final proved that age has not diminished Nole's (Djokovic's nickname) finesse and composure.
Despite losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the final, Djokovic still considered it an extraordinary result. This shows that he is still fully capable of competing on equal footing at the highest level with young stars who are almost two decades younger than him.
For Djokovic, the reasoning for continuing is simple: why retire when he still possesses the finesse, the quality, and especially the exhilarating thrill of stepping onto the court in front of his cheering fans?
Currently, Djokovic is enjoying the freedom to carefully schedule his tournaments. Accordingly, he prioritizes major tournaments and those he enjoys, such as the "desert paradise" Indian Wells.
Besides his short-term goals, Djokovic also surprised many by continuing to mention his desire to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Although he acknowledges that the timeframe is still quite far away and he will be 41 by then, the desire to defend his gold medal remains ever-present in his mind. However, unlike his younger, more assertive approach, Djokovic now chooses a more flexible strategy, not wanting to make premature decisions about his long-term future.
The world number 3 star shared that he will leave all answers open and focus on listening to his body and spending time with his family. Djokovic affirmed that he will continue to fight as long as he feels like it, and that each tournament he participates in is part of the amazing journey he is enjoying.
As the third seed at Indian Wells this year, Djokovic will begin his quest for his sixth title in the early hours of March 8th (the match is scheduled to take place at 2 AM).