Novak Djokovic: "Maybe I can still play when I'm 40"
Despite the tennis break, Novak Djokovic thinks of his two big goals to become the most successful tennis player of all time - and plans long-term.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 17, 2020, 01:41 pm
"I always have a lot of confidence in myself," said Djokovic on the US show "In Depth with Graham Bensinger" when asked if he could win most of the Grand Slam tournaments. After all, everything is connected to everything - self-confidence with the belief in yourself, clarity and fun and love in what you do in life. "I believe that I can win most of the Grand Slam tournaments and break the record for most weeks in number 1 in the world. These are clearly my goals."
The whole trip in tennis found him anyway. "I believe that the way will find you, not just the other way around," Djokovic said philosophically. "So I think I still have a few things to do in this sport."
Djokovic is currently third in the current "Grand Slam Race" with 17 majors after Roger Federer with 20 and Rafael Nadal with 19. At the moment, however, he is doomed to watch, the international tennis tour is at least until July 31st. Wimbledon has already been canceled, the French Open has been postponed to the end of September, the US Open is still considering a possible event.
Djokovic still on tour at 40?
However, the run for the records is not the only thing that motivates him. What drives him every day is the desire for personal growth.
Could he imagine playing at 40? Here Djokovic had to laugh - and stop for a moment. "I don't believe in limits," he said then. "But I definitely want to look long term." Everything has to be in harmony with my family and my private life. "He knew that the pace and number of tournaments had to slow down soon." I will not continue with this intensity with this Number of tournaments and lots of traveling, "says Djokovic, who will be celebrating his 33rd birthday on May 22nd." So it is possible that I will still play when I am 40 years old. But then maybe only with the focus on the biggest tournaments - and on those that mean the most to me. "