Tim Henman has praised Novak Djokovic's enduring excellence after another remarkable season on the biggest stage. The 38-year-old reached the semi-final at all four Majors in 2025, a feat mirrored only by Jannik Sinner.
Two decades after debuting at Majors, the veteran remains a constant presence at the pinnacle of our sport, continuing to challenge the best despite facing a younger generation at full strength.
Henman highlighted the sheer effort it takes to reach that stage in every of four Major. He pointed out that surviving demanding best-of-five encounters ahead of facing elite opponents like Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz is a challenge few could handle at that age.
Djokovic's consistency proves his ability to adapt and compete at an extraordinary level a few months after turning 38 and long after achieving everything our sport has to offer, including all 15 notable crowns.
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Tim believes legends like Novak have earned the right to play as long as they wish, especially if the motivation and enjoyment remain on the surface. At the moment, the Serb is fueled to extend his incredible run and push his own boundaries.
Henman described professional tennis as the best job in the world, suggesting that as long as Djokovic continues to find joy in the process, there is no reason to step away and terminate his journey.
The Briton looks ahead, intrigued by how the Serb will structure his 2026 season - whether he will adjust his schedule or continueto further push the limits of longevity and write more age records at selected tournaments.
The veteran still believes he can challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on the most notable stage if his body endures. The 2026 season will be Novak's 22nd at Majors, and he looks eager to maintain his form and reach deep runs.
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Will he succeed? Only time will tell, but no one should count him off, even in the year when he turns 39. Djokovic will try to recover his body ahead of next year's Australian Open and chase his 11th Melbourne crown, the first in three years.
"Novak made four Major semi-finals this year, which is a phenomenal achievement at his age. However, you have to win five best-of-five matches to get there, only to face the youngsters at the peak of their powers.
Novak has not been able to come up with the solutions. What I always say about these great players is they should play as long as they want and can. They have earned that right, and if they are enjoying themselves, they should keep playing.
It's the best job in the world. It will be interesting to see how Novak approaches 2026, what his schedule is like, and his level of play," Tim Henman said.
