by Novak Djokovic has warned his rivals in a wide-ranging interview in which he spoke out on a number of key issues.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has gone a year without winning a major title for the first time since 2017, suggesting he is close to ending his record-breaking career.
But in a wide-ranging interview with La Nacion, the 37-year-old hinted that he feels his career is not over yet as he insists there are still more titles up for grabs at the top of the league Sports could win.
Djokovic has won 99 titles in his career and is keen to get to 100, while he is also aiming to claim his 25th Grand Slam title to move past Margaret Court and become the player with the most major titles in tennis.
Those goals could drive him forward heading into 2025 and he confirmed his ambition to win again burns as he looks to defeat young talents Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
“Deep down I still feel like I need to win a few more Grand Slams,” he said. “That’s what drives me to keep going, to feel like I can still do it and play the Davis Cup for Serbia.
“Tennis is still my biggest voice when it comes to sharing the messages that matter most to me. I still enjoy the process and everything it offers me.
“Maybe some people think I should quit with Olympic gold, on the high. Others, however, think I should continue as long as I am a candidate for the Grand Slams. I lean towards the latter. Maybe I’ll change my mind soon, but for now I feel like I want to move on.
“I’m sorry to those who want me to retire, but I still have some time.”
Djokovic also spoke about his rivalry with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as he reflected on the moment when the balance of power in their fights shifted and he began to take control.
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“It took me three years to win my second Grand Slam and in those three years I was ranked No. 3 in the world,” he said.
“I was also No. 2 in 2009 and played at a very high level but couldn’t win any Grand Slams because of those two. They dominated everything. I didn’t have the formula to defeat them. I managed to win one or two games against them, but not the important ones.
“These three years were crucial for my development. They made me even hungrier to win, especially against them. I knew if I could find a way to be like these guys in the big games, and I knew a lot of it came in the head, I could somehow understand the Grand Slams and start winning more. And that’s exactly what happened.
“I’m proud to have been a part of it. Before 2011, I was unable to win Grand Slams because of their presence; They dominated the entire race track. These years between 2008 and 2011 were crucial for my growth.
“They made me even more hungry to win, especially when I faced them.”
As always, Djokovic’s interviews are compelling to watch, with his reflections on life in war-torn Serbia growing up during a harrowing period in his life.
But those experiences helped build the champion who dominated the tennis landscape for so long, and it seems he is still inspired to win more titles before his career is over.
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