For nearly two decades, Novak Djokovic has battled some of the greatest players tennis has ever seen. From his epic clashes with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to his recent duels against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the Serbian has built his legacy on overcoming formidable opponents.
Yet, when asked to name his biggest rival on the court, Djokovic did not mention any of his contemporaries. Instead, the 24-time Grand Slam champion delivered a simple answer: “Myself always.”
Djokovic’s response offered a glimpse into the mindset that has helped him remain at the pinnacle of the sport at the age of 39. The former world No.1, who holds the men’s record of 428 weeks atop the ATP rankings, admitted that his toughest battle has often been with his own expectations and relentless pursuit of improvement.
“There’s always something to prove, to myself primarily, and to others, but mostly to myself that I can always be better than I was yesterday,” Djokovic said while speaking during an appearance on CBS Mornings to promote his upcoming documentary The Wolf in Winter.
The Serbian has little left to achieve in the sport after winning 24 major titles, an Olympic gold medal and completing the Career Golden Slam in Paris 2024. Even so, the drive to push himself remains intact.
DJOKOVIC OPENS UP ON MOTIVATION AND AGEING
While Djokovic continues to chase success, he acknowledged that competing at the highest level has become increasingly difficult as his body begins to feel the effects of more than two decades on tour.
“The body is responding differently, and that’s just biology. The wear and tear of the 20-plus years on the highest level, it’s just taking its toll. So it takes more time for me to recover,” Djokovic said.
The Serbian pointed to his recent defeat to Jannik Sinner after an exhausting quarter-final that lasted five hours and 15 minutes, admitting that he was unable to fully recover in time for the semi-finals.
“After that five-hour, 15-minute quarterfinal, I just couldn’t fully recover for the semis and I wasn’t as fresh as I wanted to be. But not to take anything away from Sinner, who won and won the tournament. It’s different nowadays,” he added.
Despite the physical challenges, Djokovic insists there is still plenty that keeps him motivated. Chief among those factors is the support he continues to receive from fans around the world.
“One of the biggest reasons why I still compete is the energy of the crowd and the appreciation and respect that I’ve been getting, particularly in the last several years around the world. It’s something I cannot thank people enough for. It matters a lot to me,” Djokovic said.
As the US Open approaches, Djokovic remains determined to challenge the new generation led by Sinner and Alcaraz. But even after all his records and achievements, the Serbian believes his fiercest opponent still stares back at him from the other side of the net.
– Ends
