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Tennis icon Novak Djokovic insists speculation over his future doesn't anger him and he pays no attention to those who suggest he should hang up his racket. The Serbian superstar was asked whether the insinuation he should retire infuriates him. Djokovic, 39, has racked up 24 Grand Slam titles in his 23-year career and has achieved enough to ensure his place in conversations about the best-ever tennis player. However, he last tasted victory at a major at the US Open in 2023, a year when he also claimed titles at the Australian Open and the French Open.
The veteran did claim the gold medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024, but he has reached just two finals across eight Grand Slam competitions since his Flushing Meadows victory. Although he still made the semi-finals on six occasions.
Despite his vast credentials, Djokovic is happy to concede that speculation is part of the nature of people. Speaking to Serbian website Sportal, he said: “Oh well, everything is there. As long as there are people, there will be speculation.
“It’s in people’s nature, and it’s not only here, but everywhere. People like to criticise, to judge, with insufficient information, but that’s not something I’m used to. I don’t pay attention. I’m not angry about that, I’m angry about some other things. Some much bigger things make me angry.”
With Djokovic approaching 40, how long he has left in the game has remained a pertinent question. Recent months have seen him struggle physically and he was seen vomiting on court as he suffered back-to-back opening-round losses at the Cincinnati Open and US Open.
He bounced back to win the China Open in Beijing, but has admitted to dealing with an undisclosed health issue in recent years. Djokovic believes his health is now on the right track. But even in a recent documentary on the tennis legend, Andre Agassi revealed that he hopes the tennis ace does not wait too long to stop playing.
"I don't know when the end will come for Novak, but the one thing I can say is that the end, when it does come always comes fast," said Agassi on the Amazon documentary Novak Djokovic, the Wolf in Winter.
"I would hope for him that he doesn't wait for too long, not because he can't win anymore, but because Tennis takes your childhood. But then it gives you a chance to be done with your success so that you can raise your children without the preoccupations."
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Speaking in July, Djokovic acknowledged Agassi's thoughts, and conceded his final match is approaching. He still believes he has something to offer, however.
“I’m still feeling I can compete at the highest level, and the results are there. I can still stay a little bit active here and there (smiles), but yeah, the moment is approaching. There’s no question it’s closer than ever," Djokovic said.
“Andre Agassi is one of the all-time greats, of course. He was part of my documentary, and he said: ‘I don’t know when the end is coming for Novak, but I’m sure as hell that, when it comes, it comes fast.’
“I think he’s right. Of course, I would lie if [I said] I don’t have those thoughts. I do have them. And I don’t know if there’s a perfect way [to retire].
“There’s a category of athletes that want to leave on top, there’s a category of athletes that want to leave because their body is not listening to them, and there’s a category of athletes that just get beaten by others and they see they can’t go on. Or, it’s all of it.
“So I’m still just trying to enjoy myself competing. I’m there, and we’ll have this conversation later.”
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