Djokovic Plans to Play Into His 40s, Inspired by LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo

Djokovic Aims to Compete Into His 40s, Inspired by LeBron, Ronaldo, and Brady.

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has put retirement rumours to rest, declaring that he plans to continue playing professional tennis well into his 40s. Drawing inspiration from sporting legends like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tom Brady, Djokovic aims to emulate their longevity at the highest level.

Speaking during the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the 38-year-old Serbian star said that extending his career is a key motivation and expressed curiosity about how far he can push his limits.

“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go,” Djokovic said. “If you look at global sports, LeBron James is still going strong at 40, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tom Brady played into their 40s—it’s unbelievable. They are inspiring me.”

Djokovic added, “In the next couple of years, tennis can be greatly transformed, and I want to be part of that change. I want to play as the sport rejuvenates and helps set a new platform that will last for decades.”

Despite reaching the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams this year, Djokovic has not clinched a major title since the 2023 US Open. He also faced a setback at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost to Valentin Vacherot, who later won the title.

Over the past 18 months, Djokovic has battled injury concerns and dropped out of the top five in the ATP rankings after losing the World No. 1 spot to Jannik Sinner at last year’s French Open, ending an extraordinary 825-week run at the elite level.