Rafael Nadal retired last year, right? Now all eyes are on Djokovic. He’s the last of the Big Three still out there, remember? Roger Federer already called it quits back in ’22. With 24 Grand Slams under his belt – 10 Australian Opens, three French Opens, seven Wimbledons, and four US Opens – what else is there for the guy to achieve? Seriously, even his dad is wondering!
At 37, Djokovic still has enough fuel left to win big titles. Last season, although was his first season since 2005 without an ATP title, he showed that he could still perform on the big stage after defeating Carlos Alcaraz to win the Paris Olympics gold medal, in his fifth attempt across 16 years. Following his last triumph, he sensed a shift in perception. The media and fans alike seemed to be writing his tennis obituary. Media. Fans. His dad!
During an interview with GQ on Thursday, he revealed how his father was influencing his retirement plans, saying, “And I don’t know if he’s going to be happy with me to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. It starts with my dad. My dad is trying to retire me for a while now. No, honestly! But he hasn’t been pushy. He respects my decision to keep going. And of course he understands why I want to keep going, but he’s like: What else do you want to do
“He understands the amount and the intensity of the pressure and tension that is out there, and the stress that has an effect on my health, my body, and then, consequently, on everyone else who is around me, including him. So that’s why he was like: ‘My son, start to think about how you want to end this,’” Djokovic added.
Djokovic candidly described the emotional toll of leaving his family for tournaments. He explains that the initial separation is the most challenging, with packing up and the first few nights in the hotel being particularly difficult. “Within 48 hours,” he confesses, “the intensity of those emotions peaks – sadness, separation, regret, and an overwhelming longing to be back with my children and wife.”
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