Novak Djokovic‘s brilliance on the tennis courts never ceases to amaze! Despite injury setbacks and the natural challenges that come with age, the Serbian maestro continues to rule the tennis world. It’s almost as if he’s found the secret to eternal greatness. But even Djokovic, with all his experience and skill, knows that staying on top isn’t easy—especially when facing the new generation of tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
The 37-year-old is currently in Bulgaria and is gearing up for an exhibition match against Grigor Dimitrov. Ahead of the match, Nole reflected on the challenges he faces and the motivational factors that continue to drive him to perform better. He further reflected on the intricacies of the sport and highlighted the importance of staying obsessed.
Speaking in the interview, Nole said, “I am already 37 years old, which is a serious age for a professional tennis player. I’ve been playing for almost 20 years and my body is feeling it more and more,” per TennisKafe. He gave this as the reason for playing fewer tournaments lately. Remember, the Serb has participated only in major tournaments like Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics, and the US Open since he tore the medial meniscus in his right knee during the French Open and underwent surgery. However, he said that even though he plays fewer matches, he needs to stay motivated.
“In professional tennis you have to constantly adapt to different conditions and sometimes the body suffers from this. You have to be obsessed, but in a good way. Going to bed and getting up thinking how to get better.” Continuing further, he reflected on the challenges he and other veteran players face from young players and seemingly coined a unique term for Alcaraz and Sinner. “There are a lot of hungry wolves, young players challenging the veterans, but we are still strong.” Indeed, Alcaraz and Sinner are truly emerging as the forces to be reckoned with in the tennis arena.
Sinner and Alcaraz divided the four Grand Slams of the season between themselves, winning two each. Besides, they have remained dominant on almost every surface they played on, showcasing great skills throughout. The two have also given some tough challenges to the Serb. Despite leading the head-to-head tally 4-3 against both players, Djokovic has experienced major heartbreaks at the Australian Open semi-finals against Sinner and the Wimbledon finals against Alcaraz this season. However, this is not the first time when Djokovic has admitted the dominance of the young players.
Speaking after his Wimbledon finals defeat, the Serb acknowledged that Sinner and Alcaraz were the top forces this year and that he failed to match their level. But despite the challenges, the 24-time Grand Slam winner is demonstrating a carefree attitude toward the sport.
“I’m living for the moment “ – Novak Djokovic reveals lack of plan for the season
Novak Djokovic has probably achieved every success that a tennis player could aspire to. He has already won 24 Grand Slams and completed the puzzle by winning Olympic gold as well. For now, the Serbian legend does not seem to be bothered by what the future holds for him.
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