Novak Djokovic Shuns Retirement Talks; Sees No Reason To Quit: 'Why Stop?'

Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 16:15 IST

At 38, Novak Djokovic isn't considering retirement. After reaching the Australian Open final, he believes he can still compete with young stars.

At 38, Novak Djokovic still isn’t thinking about retirement.

In fact, the Serbian legend says he sees no reason to walk away from tennis anytime soon.

Fresh off a run to the final of the Australian Open earlier this year, Djokovic believes he has already proved he can still trade blows with the sport’s brightest young stars.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion stunned defending champion Jannik Sinner in a marathon semi-final before falling to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

For Djokovic, that Melbourne run reinforced a simple point: he’s not done competing with the next generation.

“So I have proven to myself primarily and to others that I can still compete at the highest level and beat these guys," he said.

“So my logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and the motivation to do that."

Playing on his own terms

These days, Djokovic carefully manages his calendar, focusing mainly on the four Grand Slams and a handful of key tournaments like Indian Wells.

But the competitive spark hasn’t faded.

“I really enjoy the thrill of competition," he said. “I enjoy still getting out there in front of the fans and being competitive.

“Still number three in the world, so I don’t think it’s too bad in terms of ranking, results and performances."

And as long as that competitive edge remains, Djokovic says the plan is simple.

“I still have that edge, and I’ll keep on going as long as I feel like it."

Indian Wells target in sight

Djokovic is now back at the BNP Paribas Open, making his 17th appearance at the California Masters event.

The Serbian great is already a five-time champion there and could break his tie with Roger Federer for the most titles in tournament history.

Seeded third, Djokovic will open his campaign against either Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak or big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

News sports tennis Novak Djokovic Shuns Retirement Talks; Sees No Reason To Quit: 'Why Stop?'

Read More