“All you have to do is just give him the respect for everything he's put into it”: Jimmy Connors applauds Novak Djokovic's competitive spirit and desire to continue on Tour
Jimmy
Connors showers Novak Djokovic with praise for his desire to stay on the Tour
until the young players can routinely defeat him"
Eight-time
Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors is one more person who lauded 'Nole' for his
great competitive spirit despite being 36 years old. Now as the world No. 1 and
the recent US Open champion, Djokovic has made it clear that he doesn't expect
to retire yet, especially because, despite his age, he remains at the pinnacle
of tennis
Djokovic
has been the best in Grand Slams over the past three years, taking advantage of
Rafael Nadal's absence and Roger Federer's decline. Djokovic has won 7 of the
last 10 Slams he played and reached two finals. The 24-time Grand Slam champion
shared his desires to keep competing:
"Knowing
that I play at such a high level still and I win the biggest tournaments in
this sport, yeah, I don't want to get rid of this sport or I don't want to
leave this sport if I'm still at the top," he said (via Reuters).
In the
Advantage Connors podcast, American tennis legend Jimmy Connors showered
Djokovic with praise, stating that he has shown he is still better than the
rest of the Tour and continues to strive for victory in major tournaments:
"We're
talking about a 36-year-old guy who's making the headlines. And you know I'm
going to say it again. I like that. You know, he made a good statement. He says
I'm staying around as long as these young guys don't want to beat me,” said
former world No. 1 Connors.
“I'm gonna
stay and play and I don't blame him, because he is good," he added.
"You
know, he works at, he works at it. He does everything he can to be the best he
can be and from there I mean all you all you have to do is just give him the
respect for everything he's put into it. And by the way, He's on number
24," Connors added.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
Novak Djokovic is the only player in men's tennis to have an 85%+ winning percentage at every Slam.
🇦🇺Australian Open: 91.75%
🇫🇷French Open: 85.19%
🇬🇧Wimbledon: 89.32%
🇺🇸US Open: 87.13%
He has mastered every surface.