As the guard in men’s tennis slowly changes, legendary Novak Djokovic has hoped that Spain’s Rafael Nadal will continue to play the sport for a while after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. Nadal, 38, has faced multiple injuries in the past two years and is expected to call time on his career at the end of this season.
Djokovic, who himself is 37 years of age is determined to prolong the era of tennis’s ‘Big Four’ as twice-Olympic champion Andy Murray prepares to retire after the Paris Games. Murray, who won singles gold in 2012 and 2016, will only participate in the doubles before his retirement at the age of 37. Djokovic could face record 14-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the second round.
With Roger Federer having retired in 2022 and Nadal nearing the end of his career, the responsibility of extending the ‘Big Four’ era falls on Djokovic’s shoulders. Djokovic expressed his admiration for Murray and Nadal, hoping they will continue to contribute to the sport.
“I hope that Andy will have the best possible farewell in his last competitive match here in the Olympics, for him and his country. He is a legend of our sport, he has been an incredibly important player for tennis globally,” Djokovic said.
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“Nadal, the same, even more so with all the results and achievements he has had, particularly in this city, in Roland Garros. He still didn’t say when his last tournament will be, so hopefully for the sake of the sport, he can keep going.
“I don’t have retirement on my mind even though I know a lot of people would love me to retire so that this era is done. But I think as long as there is at least one of us left, I think the era is still going.”
Djokovic also expressed excitement about a potential duel with Nadal, saying it would be a spectacle reminiscent of their past matches on major tennis courts.
CARRY THE SPORT
Djokovic described youngsters Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the two best players in the world who will “carry the sport into the future” but that was not going to stop the Serbian from striving to win titles.
“I’ve been present for the shift of many generations in the last 15 years,” added Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final earlier this month.
“The end is nearer than the beginning, but I still enjoy competition and I’ll keep going until I don’t enjoy it anymore.”
Djokovic has not won a title this year and having pulled out of the French Open before the quarter-finals for knee surgery, the 37-year-old has unfinished business at Roland Garros, even if his preparation has been far from ideal.
“This year we haven’t had time to prepare properly because the tennis calendar was very busy. I played Wimbledon because it’s the most important tournament in our sport and it is also a softer surface, so it gave me time to adapt with my knee injury.
“I also haven’t had a proper preparation before Wimbledon, but in the last four to five days, I have felt more ready for the Olympic Games than I have for Wimbledon.”
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