Four Reasons Novak Djokovic Should Keep Playing

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

How long will Novak Djokovic keep playing professional tennis? At age 38, there obviously isn’t a lot of runway left in his career. Following his 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of Wimbledon, Djokovic did say that he hoped and planned to return to the All England Club at least one more time.

On “The Tennis Podcast,” long-time tennis media personality David Law suggested that this year’s Wimbledon was probably the last major championship where Djokovic will be a competitive force to win and that his motivations for the grind of pro tennis may not be there. I disagree slightly and I outline four motivations that could keep Djokovic continuing to play competitive tennis on the ATP Tour as long as his body holds up and he is, in fact, competitive at winning tournament titles. I also discuss this on my mini-podcast “Motivations For Novak Djokovic To Continue His Career” here https://www.swellcast.com/t/O1Ur7g7bfWIOHxb

ALL-TIME GRAND SLAM WINNER

While the gap between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the two top guns in men’s tennis, seems to be widening, you can’t count Djokovic out to win yet another major title. It would be his 25h career major title breaking the all-time singles record he now shares with Margaret Court. While Djokovic still believes he can beat the two new top guns in tennis, it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. But sometimes draws open up with upset losses, like Alcaraz losing at the U.S. Open second round to Botic van de Zandschulp in 2024. He may not need to go through both of them, or none of them, if upsets or injuries to Alcaraz or Sinner cause for Djokovic to not have to go through the world No. 1 and No. 2 to win a major, or perhaps a stellar performance manifests for Djokovic against one of them or another.

With regard to Wimbledon 2025, what is Grigor Dimitrov had not gotten injured and finished his upset of Sinner?  What if Taylor Fritz had beaten Alcaraz? Djokovic would have had to beat Dimitrov (or Ben Shelton) in the semifinals and Fritz in the final. That’s not as intimidating as beating Sinner and Alcaraz. This could happen at any Grand Slam tournament.

DJOKOVIC CAN BECOME THE ALL-TIME MEN’S SINGLES TITLE LEADER

When Djokovic won the title at the 250-level event in Geneva earlier this year, it marked his 100^th career singles title. This places him just three shy of tying Roger Federer with 103 titles for second place all time. Jimmy Connors holds the men’s record with 109 titles. Since Djokovic is 38 years old, he really needs to pick and choose more where he plays tournaments to save his body. So if he is going to play limited events, why not focus on 250 level events that are less taxing and have weaker fields so he can more easily reach at least the 103 title threshold. Events like the Winston-Salem Open this summer or Chengdu, China or the Stockholm Open in the fall could be on the cards for Djokovic, as well, of course, the Belgrade event in Serbia, which is a 250 level. You may see him skip more Masters 1000 events as one has to play six matches versus ATP 250s where you only have to play four, maybe five.

DJOKOVIC CAN BE THE OLDEST PLAYER TO WIN AN ATP SINGLES TITLE

Of course Djokovic – and any competitive players – want to hold as many records or accomplishments and another record Djokovic could attain is being the oldest player to win an ATP Tour (since the modern ATP Tour started in 1990). Right now that distinction belongs to Gael Monfils, who won the title in Auckland, New Zealand in 38 years, four months in 2024. After September 22, any tournament that Djokovic wins will exceed this record. The all-time “Grand Prix” record for oldest player to win a singles title (before the start of the modern-day ATP Tour but after the start of the Open Era in 1968) is held by Pancho Gonzalez, who won the title in Kingston, Jamaica in 1972 at age 44. This would probably be out of reach for Djokovic, however.

ADULATION

One of the biggest frustrations in Djokovic’s career is that he has not been universally adored like his two main rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He has always, for various reasons, been the one most vociferously cheered against platers, especially when playing Federer or Nadal. Djokovic has almost always during his peak years, been cast as the favorite and fans normally want to cheer for underdogs, other than the enormously popular Federer and Nadal. Djokovic has always seemingly had a chip on his shoulder that he has not been as popular or respected as Nadal and Federer. With Nadal and Federer retired and with Djokovic now being more of an underdog as the “old man” in tennis, he will finally get the adulation that he deserves and that he has always wanted. Fans will stand and applaud and show their respect for the man who ended up being the greatest tennis player of all time.