In Riyadh, preparing for an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic expressed his aspirations to extend his tennis career well beyond his 40s, drawing inspiration from American football legend Tom Brady. Brady retired earlier this year at the age of 45 after a remarkable 23-season career in the National Football League, winning seven Super Bowls.
Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion and current world number one, emphasized the valuable lessons he has learned from Brady’s commitment to self-care, recovery, and holistic well-being. The Serbian tennis maestro is gearing up for his 22nd season as a professional, facing Alcaraz in an exhibition match in Riyadh.
“Tom Brady is a great example of a champion in his sport and someone that has had such a great career and longevity,” Djokovic said. “He has put a lot of hours and a lot of time into self-care, into recovery, into making sure that every aspect of his body and mind is covered so that he can have a long-lasting, successful career.”
Reflecting on his own condition, Djokovic mentioned feeling great in his body and highlighted the high-quality tennis he played in 2023, a season in which he clinched three Grand Slam titles – the French Open, the Australian Open, and the U.S. Open. The Serbian champion expressed a desire to continue playing at his peak, stating, “Why stop while you’re still playing great? So I’ll keep going and take (each) year, one by one, and see how far I go.”
Acknowledging the transitional phase in men’s tennis with the retirements of Roger Federer and the impending final season of Rafael Nadal, Djokovic welcomed the emergence of 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz. Despite losing to Alcaraz in a five-set Wimbledon thriller, Djokovic sees the rise of the young Spaniard as a positive development for the sport.
“Our era is coming to an end, but you have Alcaraz emerging, which is great,” Djokovic said. “I was very happy that I had four very good matches with him this year. Each match attracted a lot of attention, we had a lot of great highlights, and it’s good for our sport.”
Djokovic is set to make final preparations for the Australian Open, aiming for an 11th title, by representing his country in the United Cup in Perth and Sydney in the first week of the new year.
