Novak Djokovic recently reflected on the retirements of his long-time rivals, including Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, and the earlier departure of Roger Federer, marking the end of an era in tennis. Speaking at an exhibition event in Buenos Aires for del Potro’s official farewell, Djokovic shared that he feels part of a “golden era” of tennis, along with Federer, Nadal, Murray, and others like Stan Wawrinka and del Potro. He expressed both pride and sadness, acknowledging that the intense rivalries over the past 15 years shaped his career, as well as the careers of his peers.
Djokovic noted that the retirements of these rivals felt like a personal chapter closing. However, he remains motivated and committed to continuing his journey in tennis. He recently made the surprising decision to hire Andy Murray, one of his greatest competitors, as his new coach, a move he hopes will inspire both of them to achieve more in the sport. Djokovic has faced his top rivals a combined 193 times in his career, with his most frequent battles being against Nadal, with whom he has a 31-29 record. Despite the end of an era, Djokovic is determined to keep pushing for success in the coming seasons.
