Novak Djokovic fell to Jannik Sinner in the Six Kings Slam semi-final. The veteran took six games in a 6-4, 6-2 loss in just over an hour. Speaking before the match, the veteran revealed that his motivation to keep pushing boundaries remains as strong as ever at 38.
Despite winning everything our sport has to offer, Novak continues to challenge time and expectations, driven by a profound curiosity about his limits and the evolution of his beloved sport.
The Belgrade native draws inspiration from other sporting icons who defied age - from LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo to Tom Brady - seeing in them reflections of his hunger and discipline.
Their examples fuel his determination to remain at the top, even as a new generation led by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz rises and dominates men's tennis.
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What excites the 24-time Major winner most is the future of tennis - the new formats, innovations and athletes who will reshape the game in the coming years.
Rather than stepping aside, Novak wants to be part of that transformation - not only as a competitor but as a contributor to its next exciting chapters. For Djokovic, longevity is no longer a matter of records and trophies.
It's about curiosity, passion and the enduring desire to be there when the sport he helped define takes its next great leap forward. At 38, the legend remains near the top, maintaining a place in the top-5.
He reached all four Major semi-finals this season, fought for a Masters 1000 title in Miami and celebrated his 100th ATP title in Geneva, becoming the third player in the Open era to achieve that.
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"Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I want to see how far I can go. I recognize that seeing how great historical figures in other sports continue to play at 40 or older, like LeBron, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Tom Brady, is motivating and inspiring for me.
I also want to see the changes that are coming to our sport; that excites me a lot. I believe tennis will undergo a significant transformation in the upcoming years.
I want to be playing when that happens and contribute to the new platform on which the sport will develop. I know some people want me to retire soon, but that's not going to happen," Novak Djokovic said.
