Novak Djokovic still has passion for the game of tennis but Father Time and an eventual retirement is looming over the legend.
After the 38-year-old claimed his 101st career title in Athens, Greece he addressed his plans for retirement. Djokovic was very candid about the storybook ending he envisions for his career.
"My wish is to end my career in 2028 [Olympics] holding the Serbian flag," Djokovic said.
The comment comes as Djokovic chose to withdraw from the ATP Finals for the second year in a row. He cited a shoulder injury forcing him to be absent from the tournament that begins on Sunday in Turin, Italy. He has won the ATP Finals seven times.
Most recently, Djokovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti in a near-three hour duel in Athens. It proved the 38-year-old can still find his peak form even at this late stage of his career.
Can we all agree that Novak Djokovic is the greatest athlete of all time?Pic.twitter.com/kRmqYQYgj5
— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) November 8, 2025
But as Djokovic grows older, he has often talked about preserving himself for the most important tournaments like Grand Slams and the Olympics. Djokovic won his first Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games over Carlos Alcaraz.
📲 Follow AllSportsPeople on WhatsApp
Djokovic's withdrawal from the ATP Finals signals a calculated move to pace himself for the future. It serves his end goal of retiring in 2028, when he would be 41 years old. He set the record in 2024 as the oldest men's singles player to win Olympic gold (37) and would set the record again if he was to win in 2028.
It seems like a lofty goal but the Serbian's focus and passion for the game means nothing is off the table.