Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, once told her husband that he wouldn’t be able to resist the allure of tennis after he shockingly threatened to retire from the sport — a prediction she continues to see come true. Despite his threats, Djokovic persevered and has since become an undeniable icon in the world of sports, recently hinting at the possibility of playing well into his 40s.
The former world No. 1 — whose former rival made a major prediction about the Serb’s end-of-season plans after his “completely absurd” year — has secured a record-breaking 24 Grand Slam singles titles for men, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. However, Djokovic hasn’t clinched a Grand Slam title since the 2023 US Open. The Serbian player turns 39 next year but made it to the semi-finals in all four major tournaments this season.
He has also been battling injuries throughout 2025, reigniting rumors of potential retirement. Djokovic nearly ended his legendary tennis career seven years ago before making a remarkable comeback. At that point, Djokovic had only won half of his major championships, with recurring injuries and mounting frustrations leading him to briefly step away from the game.
In a 2020 conversation, Jelena recalled the emotional period, stating, “He wanted to quit. He gathered all the members of his team and told them, ‘You know what, I’m done, I’m quitting.’ We cried and told him that he couldn’t do it, that it wasn’t the right time.
“He didn’t want to play tennis, and he didn’t even want to see a ball pass in front of him.” Djokovic even contacted his sponsors to inform them of his retirement plans, but Jelena reminded him of tennis’s profound significance in his life, prompting his dramatic change of heart.
The convincing influence of Jelena and their children, Stefan and Tara, rekindled his passion to compete once more. “He didn’t want to know anything about it,” Jelena said. “But I love tennis and I take the kids to the court every day. On the third day, Novak arrived.
“He saw we were having fun, and it wasn’t the intense training he was accustomed to for years. Novak asked me if he could play and get a racket, but I refused. I started teasing him, saying he had quit and now it was our turn to play tennis. Eventually, he served and felt good, then returned daily until he finally called his coach Marian Vajda to start training again.”
LeBron James and Tom Brady inspiration
His choice to continue competing became one of tennis’s most remarkable revivals. He secured 12 additional major championships, achieving an incredible and record-matching 24 Grand Slams. Djokovic has now dismissed speculation about imminent retirement. The tennis legend delivered a defiant statement about his future during an appearance at the Joy Forum in Saudi Arabia before the recent Six Kings Slam.
“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations and I really want to see how far I can go. You see across all the global sports, you know, LeBron James is still going strong,” he said, claiming he would like to play on until he was 40. “Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40. I want to keep going. I also want to live, I mean keep on playing professionally, to see the change that is coming for our sport and I’m super excited about it.”
When pressed about hanging up his racket, Djokovic responded: “It’s not happening. I’m sorry to disappoint them. It’s just not happening.” Rumors are swirling, though, that 2026 could signal the conclusion of his legendary journey. Ex-world No. 1 doubles champion Rennae Stubbs has hinted that Djokovic might decide to retire following January’s Australian Open.
“I feel like the Australian Open is going to be his last major tournament to play,” she revealed via GB News. “I don’t think he wants to keep playing after that and have to go through the French Open. I feel like the Australian Open would be a great way to finish his career. It’s where his Grand Slam titles started.”
The Serbian superstar has sent conflicting messages about his plans. Following his elimination from this year’s French Open, he hinted he might never compete at Roland Garros again. “This could have been the last match I ever played here, so I don’t know,” he admitted to supporters following his loss to Jannik Sinner. Djokovic recently hinted at his participation in next year’s Paris Masters, after sitting out this year’s tournament.
His remarks indicate a desire to extend his career, possibly recognizing his deep love for the sport that he briefly left in 2018. On X, the Serbian star penned: “Dear Paris, unfortunately I’ll not compete at this year’s @RolexPMasters. I have amazing memories and great success over the years, especially being able to conquer the title seven times. Hope to see you next year. Merci.”
