"I hope we have Djokovic and Nadal playing until they're 40" says Jim Courier

Former world number one Jim Courier hopes to see Djokovic and Nadal playing until they are 40 like Federer.

Jim Courier won four singles grand slam titles during his career and since retiring the American has been firmly involved in tennis mostly from an analyst's point of view. While on the job as an analyst Courier talked about Novak Djokovic and his most recent achievements at the Paris Masters. Djokovic not only set the record for most Masters 1000 event wins ever at 37 he also secured a record 7th year-end no. 1 ranking.

Its the latter one that particularly impressed Courier who said:

“I think that that’s an under-valued asset as far as achievement goes. There’s too much weight put on the number of majors, but weeks at No 1 really speaks to the body of work, especially when you factor in that these three champions, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, are all doing it largely at same time."

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He further continued:

“It’s so remarkable that Novak has been able to track these guys down and now leapfrog them in a number of vital categories, seven times year-end No. 1 and running away with the weeks at No. 1 as well.”

Courier also noted Djokovic doing a similar thing to Federer by picking his spot with events. He does not play too many and Courier believes that will extend his career as it did for Federer:

“That’s what extended Federer’s career so beautifully, too. Federer picked his spots and played sparingly from a young age. I hope we’ll be as lucky to have Novak and Rafa play until they’re 40 like we have with Roger, and hopefully beyond. But playing a lighter schedule will go a long way toward keeping him fresh and probably healthy as well.”

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