"I think my career is also coming to an end": Novak Djokovic drops own retirement hint ahead of potential Nadal Olympic Games showdown
ATPThursday, 25 July 2024 at 16:30
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could yet renew their rivalry in the biggest news to come from the Olympic Games draw which will begin on July 27 at Roland Garros albeit both have to get through first round ties to start off with.
Djokovic will have to face off against Matt Ebden who is a late alternate into the draw due to Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune and finally Andy Murray's late withdrawal. But Nadal has a tougher test. He will face Hungarian ace Marton Fucsovics who could yet kibosh any potential final meeting between the two legends of the sport.
Djokovic though dropped his own retirement bombshell saying that in his view he doesn't have much longer left in his career and as a result, he will enjoy potential ties like this while he still can in his career. He also said that not being the favourite is a motivating factor.
He will finally aim to seal the Olympic Games gold medal that has eluded him. It is the one notch on his belt during his career that he is yet to achieve and he will aim to seal it over the next week.
“I am very excited and have high expectations for the Olympics. I feel good respect and I feel more ready than I was before Wimbledon. The fact that I am not a favourite in the odds is a motivation for me. The Olympic Games have always been a big challenge for me. I focused all the preparation on this tournament," said Djokovic as per Sportface.
"I am aware that an era with Nadal and Murray's retirements after the Games is ending. I think my career is also coming to an end, but I believe there are and there will be tennis players who can carry the weight of being the best. It would be exciting to play against Nadal in the second round.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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mandoist13-09-2026 - “The way I like to put it – no disrespect to anybody – is that this is her house, and all the other girls are just guests, and it’s time for them to go home” Well now... seems John Stacy has made a complete ass of himself. Doubt he'll be receiving any invitations to Lena's "house" any time soon.mandoist13-09-2026
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AceOfBase12-09-2026
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