At 38, Novak Djokovic continues to live by the same philosophy that guided him through the previous two decades and his dominant years - the relentless pursuit of perfection!
Despite achieving everything out sport has to offer, the Serb keeps defying time while remaining in the top-5 at his age. However, his satisfaction never comes easily.
The 24-time Major winner still believes there is always room to improve, even after rewriting nearly every page of tennis history in the previous 15seasons.
Djokovic admitted that watching Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set new standards of excellence brings mixed emotions. Their incredible rivalry and domination while displaying near-flawless tennis remind him of his golden years and highlight the challenges of keeping up in a sport that never stops evolving.
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Despite the frustration of not being able to challenge them in the previous matches, especially Jannik, Novak embraces the new reality with respect and perspective.
He recognizes that the Italian and the Spaniard are pushing the boundaries of the modern game, carrying forward the legacy he helped shape. However, deep within, the perfectionist in the Belgrade native refuses to rest!
As always, the legend is striving for that unreachable best version of himself that keeps his fire alive at 38 years. Djokovic has not won a Major for two years. However, he remains among the players to beat on the most notable scene.
The veteran reached all four semi-finals in 2025, standing in the exclusive list alongside Jannik Sinner. Despite his age, Novak has been the third-best player of 2025, defying age and showcasing his everlastingdesire and passion.
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"The new reality is the way it is. I have to be satisfied with the top-5 spot in these circumstances. That's how I see it. I know that I'm very self-critical in the sense that I know that I can always play better, and even when I was at my highest level, I felt like I could play better.
I think that kind of mindset really helps because you feel like you always have to have a mindset of pursuing the best version of yourself. You might never catch it, but you still lean towards perfectionism, whatever that is.
Jannik and Carlos are playing as close to perfection right now in the last year as they can be. To be honest, it's quite frustrating to play them when they are playing at such a high level. However, at the same time, it's great for our sport," Novak Djokovic said.
