Novak Djokovic has firmly dismissed retirement rumors amidst ongoing discussions about his future in tennis. Speaking at the Joy Forum in Riyadh, he expressed his ambition to extend his career and take inspiration from athletes in other sports who have achieved remarkable longevity.
Djokovic highlighted prominent figures like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady, who have all maintained top performance levels well into their 40s. “Longevity is one of my biggest motivations,” Djokovic remarked, adding, “I really want to see how far I can go.” He underscored his desire to be a part of tennis’s transformation, signaling his determination to contribute to the sport’s evolution over the coming years.
As tennis grapples with financial disparities, leading players have been advocating for a larger share of revenue from Grand Slam events. Djokovic, a co-founder of the Professional Tennis Players Association, recently supported lawsuits against tennis’s governing bodies aimed at implementing these necessary changes.
Currently, Djokovic is in Saudi Arabia for the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament, where he and fellow champion Carlos Alcaraz have advanced to the semi-finals. The event boasts a substantial prize pool of $4.5 million, with some participants reportedly receiving seven-figure payouts just to attend. The tournament winner could take home as much as $6 million.
In a recent match, Djokovic faced the defending champion, Jannik Sinner, and unfortunately lost 6-4, 6-2, paving the way for Sinner to meet Alcaraz again in the final. As the landscape of tennis continues to change, Djokovic’s ambitions and the support for player rights signal a hopeful future for the sport, as new platforms and opportunities for athletes are on the horizon.