Tennis pro, Novak Djokovic, who is 36 years old, stated he had no intention of giving up the game anytime soon and hoped that, like legendary American football player Tom Brady, he could be able to play football well into his 40s.
Before ultimately retiring earlier this year at the age of 45, quarterback Brady played 23 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and won seven Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ESPN reported.
Djokovic, the world’s top player, is preparing for his 22nd season by playing an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Riyadh on Wednesday.
He said he had already learned plenty from Brady.
“Tom Brady is a great example of a champion in his sport and someone that has had such a great career and longevity,” Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, told reporters in the Saudi capital.
“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 also said: “I feel great in my own body right now and I’ve been playing some really high-quality tennis.”
He added: “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.”
Alcaraz won Wimbledon’s other Grand Slam title in a five-set thriller against the Serbian legend who welcomed the 20-year-old Spaniard’s rise, especially as Roger Federer retires and Rafael Nadal enters his final season.
Djokovic will make his final preparations for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title by representing his country in the United Cup in Perth and Sydney in the first week of the new year.