Djokovic says he’s playing every slam as if it’s his last

The Serb can equal Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list with 24 Grand Slam titles if he wins the US Open

Zuma / Panoramic

Simon Cambers

August 25, 2023

US Open •First round • completed

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A. MullervsN. Djokovic

Novak Djokovic says he has no plans to retire from tennis and there’s certainly no sign of him slowing down even as he moves deeper into his 37th year.

His victory over world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final was nothing short of an epic performance, and one that shows that his torch still burns as brightly as ever.

Djokovic will, of course, be chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title here at the US Open this fortnight, having been denied by Alcaraz at Wimbledon.

And as he plots his next two weeks, Djokovic said he is turning over every stone in chase of glory.

Alcaraz and Djokovic, Cincinnati 2023 — Aaron Doster/AP/SIPA

“Grand Slams are the biggest goals that I have in my career at the moment,” he said. “I always speak about that, that I aim to peak and perform my best in Grand Slams.

“I don’t know how many more slams I’ll have. I’ll still keep going. I don’t have an end in my mind at the moment. I also understand that things are different when you’re 36, so I have to be more appreciative, a bit more I guess present, treating every Grand Slam as maybe your last one in terms of commitment and performance.

I” see this every Grand Slam that I play right now as really a golden opportunity to make more history. Of course, there’s a big significance to that.”

Djokovic: “I don’t think about what happened in the last couple of years”

Djokovic missed last year’s US Open, denied entry into the country due to the ban on non-citizens who were not vaccinated against Covid-19.

The Serb said he was not driven by that absence in particular.

“There was no anger,” he said. “It was last year during the Open that I felt it’s a pity that I’m not there. I felt sad for not being able to participate.

“But this year, I mean, is this year. I don’t think about what happened in the last year or last couple of years. Just focusing my attention to this year’s tournament.

“I wouldn’t say adds a bit more, the fact I haven’t played here for two years, it’s just the feeling is pretty much the same. There’s always these expectations, excitement, and ambition to win the title. That’s pretty much the same this year.”

Djokovic will begin his title bid against the Frenchman, Alexandre Muller, on Monday night.