Novak Djokovic’s 2024 has not quite gone as he would have hoped, but all his struggles felt vindicated after his performance in Paris.
After all, battling through injury and troublesome form, as well as against a seemingly unstoppable Carlos Alcaraz, he somehow won the Olympic gold medal to officially cap off a magnificent career.
Few would have blamed him for retiring on the spot after this triumph, having officially completed tennis.
But, as someone who is still comfortably one of the best on tour despite his seniority, there’s no rush for him to call time on his magnificent career.
He has just earned a little more freedom to pick and choose his events now.
Novak Djokovic plans his 2024 schedule
Speaking to sports.fr, the Serbian was remarkably open when looking ahead to the rest of 2024.
After all, there is little left for him to aim for anymore, having officially completed his trophy cabinet over the summer by claiming the Olympic Gold Medal.
It is only really Grand Slams that can add to his legendary legacy now, and with the US Open over, we are done for the year.
And seemingly, so too is Novak Djokovic when it comes to pushing himself, as he revealed: ‘For the first time in my career, I don’t have long-term plans. I live in the present moment and I will see what happens.
‘Today, I will play in Sofia against Grigor, then in China, and then at an exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia. After that, I don’t know. We’ll see how I feel and we’ll judge from there. Family life is very important to me.
‘I want to be with my wife and children, be part of their daily lives, which I have not been able to do for many years.’
Despite this, Lindsay Davenport still predicts Djokovic to win many more Grand Slam titles.
Novak Djokovic deserves to enjoy the rest of his career
After battling through such a long, gruelling but ultimately supremely successful career, Djokovic deserves to enjoy the final years how he pleases.
Especially given the players he was forced to do battle with throughout, not only finding a way to worm his way into the conversation with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but actually surpassing them as well.
A feat that almost all of the ATP failed to do, the 37-year-old rose to their level admirably, turning early-career struggles with fitness and form around with minimal fuss.
Having dedicated his life to the sport, both physically, mentally and nutritionally, it will be nice to see Djokovic just enjoy his tennis without the burden of having to win it all.
He’s already done all that, and can now maintain a healthier work-life balance as he creeps towards retirement.
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