Tennis legend Novak Djokovic, 38, has rejected retirement speculation, declaring his ambition to play well into his 40s, citing the longevity of sporting icons like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady as his motivation.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, whose last major came in 2023, confirmed his drive to keep going at the Joy Forum conference in Riyadh.
“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations… They are inspiring me,” Djokovic said, referencing the stars who have defied age in their respective sports.
Despite a challenging year that saw him lose in the semi-finals of three majors to younger rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the Serb is determined to remain a leading figure.
Djokovic also expressed a desire to shape the future of the sport, stating: “I want to be playing when we rejuvenate our sport and set the new platform.”
The comments were made as Djokovic participated in the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition, where he was defeated by Sinner in the semi-finals.
