Jimmy Connors predicts Djokovic will keep playing despite rival retirements: “Everything about his day is centred around tennis”

Jimmy Connors shared his thoughts on a possible retirement for Novak Djokovic while comparing him to Rafael Nadal. The American former world No. 1 discussed the potential scenario that would lead Djokovic to consider retirement.

The 8-time Grand Slam champion dismissed the idea that Djokovic has lost motivation, considering the retirements of his main rivals: Roger Federer in 2022, and Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal in 2024.

Connors: Djokovic’s exit depends on next generation stepping up

Djokovic has already secured almost every possible record in men’s tennis. After winning the gold medal at Paris 2024, Djokovic has captured all the major titles, adding to his 24 Grand Slam titles, 40 Masters 1000s, seven ATP Finals, and 428 weeks as world No. 1—records in which he has greatly surpassed his rivals and which seem unlikely to be beaten by any future player.

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In recent years, Djokovic pulled ahead of Nadal, with whom he had been closely matched in several statistics, although Djokovic hadn’t yet won the gold medal. He finally achieved that in the latest Olympic Games, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final to complete the last remaining accomplishment in his incredible career.

“It’s hard for me to say he has had a drop in motivation because he does everything throughout the day to make himself as good as he can be,” the American said on the Advantage Connors podcast. “With his training and his eating, everything about his day is centred around tennis and being the best he can be.”

“I am trying to say it the right way. Getting older is getting older. You have a lot of young guys who are seeing maybe he’s not what he used to be, that old grey mare. A little vulnerable. He’s not quite playing up to the standard we are used to seeing.”

“But he has got the kind of game I like. He has a good return, an aggressive return. I am not counting him out ever. He’s got guts, the game, and intensity. He is like [Rafael] Nadal, he’s not going to go out there unless he is ready to play,” the 8-time Grand Slam champion added. “We talk about Sinner and Alcaraz, but the only way he’s going to say it’s time to go is if some of those other guys start stepping up too, or else he’ll keep hanging on, and what’s wrong with that?”