Novak Djokovic reveals the one factor that could eventually force his retirement
Novak Djokovic has revealed the factor that could possibly lead to him retiring from the sport. The 37-year-old tennis star turned pro in 2003 and has been going strong for over two decades, even after his contemporaries Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have bid adieu to the sport.
He continues to give a difficult time to the youngsters, staying toe-to-toe with them even at this age. However, the star recently admitted that more than physical vigor or tenacity, motivation acts as a driving force for him to continue playing.
In an interview with media outlet TNT Sports, the Serb said that if he ever loses motivation to play, he will put an end to his career right then.
"If I'm not motivated, I'm not here. I don't play anymore. I put the racquet to rest," he said.
Djokovic added that he still feels motivated to play Grand Slams as his hunger for more wins continues unabated.
"I still feel the desire to play, the passion to compete is always there. I hope to push harder. The Grand Slams are tournaments where I have more motivation to do well," Djokovic said.
This year, however, hasn't been particularly rewarding for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. He hasn't registered a title win yet, despite reaching a final and a semifinal.
Novak Djokovic's journey through physical struggles in the 2025 season
Coming off a rollercoaster 2024 season, Novak Djokovic has struggled with multiple physical challenges this season as well. He began the year with a back injury at the Australian Open, which forced him to quit from his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev.
This was followed by the tennis star being on the sidelines for a few days, after which he suffered early exits at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells. However, he made a stellar comeback at the Miami Open, albeit not without a few hiccups.
The star player was noticed with a swollen eye in the Miami final against youngster Jakub Mensik. After a furious duel, he lost to the Czech 6-7, 6-7, but the eye condition persisted until the start of the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Djokovic, however, has kept pushing through these challenges and will look to win his 100th ATP title this season.