New Delhi : With a resounding declaration that retirement is not in the cards, Novak Djokovic has indicated that he is eager to emulate American football icon Tom Brady by continuing to play well past the age of 40.
Over the course of his 23-year career in the National Football League, Brady won seven Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the end of the day, he hung up his cleats earlier this year, turning forty-five.
The 24-time Grand Slam victor Djokovic said he has picked up a lot of knowledge from Brady as he prepares for an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the run-up to the 2024 season.
“Tom Brady is a great example of a champion in his sport and someone that has had such a great career and longevity. He has put a lot of hours and a lot of time into self-care, into recovery, into making sure that in a way every aspect of his body and mind is covered so that he can have a long-lasting, successful career.
“I know him personally and I learned a lot from him, from his example, and hopefully I can have a career that goes up to 40 or maybe even beyond – let’s see,” Djokovic told reporters in Riyadh.
“I feel great in my own body right now and I’ve been playing some really high-quality tennis. 2023 was one of the best seasons I’ve had in my life and why stop while you’re still playing great? So I’ll keep going and take (each) year, one by one, and see how far I go,” Djokovic added.
With two Masters 1000 titles, three Grand Slams, an ATP 250 title, and the season-ending ATP Finals, the 36-year-old Serbian player finished the year with seven titles.
After securing three of the four Grand Slams in this year’s campaign, Djokovic joined the ranks of his other exceptional seasons from 2011 and 2015.
The legendary Sebian player further solidified his place in tennis history by securing a record-breaking eighth year-end No. 1 ranking. In addition, he hopes to surpass his record of 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles and 24 Grand Slams, which includes 10 Australian Opens, in 2024.
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