Tennis star withdraws from Adelaide International ahead of Australian Open
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Djokovic regularly answers retirement questions, but just a week ago he said at the World Sports Summit in Dubai that he planned to play at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, after beating Alcaraz to win Olympic gold in Paris two years ago.
“I will play in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. These games are the guiding star for me,” Djokovic said.
“There are no limits. I love competing and as long as I feel good, as long as my body can handle it, as long as I’m playing at a high level, why not?
“Longevity isn’t just about sports, it’s about how you take care of your body, your mind, your energy and your time. Billie Jean King once said: ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ I always wanted to meet the world’s expectations. So I’m grateful to still be here.”
Post shared by Novak Djokovic on his Instagram story.Credit: instagram
Speaking to this article, Nick Kyrgios said that people should stop wondering when Djokovic’s end will come and appreciate him while he is still on tour.
“We do this with athletes all the time, especially those who are in a completely different conversation. [like Djokovic]. Why is he still playing? I don’t know; it is an anomaly. It’s different. He loves sports,” Kyrgios said.
“Of course there’s something he wants to achieve there, whether it’s another grand slam or something else, but I think we have to value the fact that someone that old in our sport is still at the top and still giving his all to it.
“The longer we have guys like this around, the better it will be for our sport.
“Ever since then I’ve felt like there’s been a void in the sport [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal is gone… and of course when Novak is gone, that era is over for good. I want it to stay as long as possible.”
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