Novak Djokovic sometimes thinks about the end of his career, but even after winning his 24th Grand Slam title, he doesn’t want to stop playing tennis. “Occasionally I ask myself: Why do I need all this after everything I have achieved? How long do I want to continue? Of course I have these questions in my head,” reported the 36-year-old Serb on Sunday evening (local time) after winning the US Open final. “But as long as I’m still playing at this high level and winning the biggest tournaments in this sport, I don’t want to get rid of or leave this sport when I’m still at the top.”

Djokovic is not thinking about ending his career after his 24th Grand Slam title

With 6:3, 7:6 (7:5), 6:3 over Russian Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic won the Grand Slam tournament in New York for the fourth time. He replaces the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz as number one in the world rankings and extends his record with the 390th week in the top position.

His coach Goran Ivanisevic even expects Djokovic to be there in five years. “He plans to play in the Olympics in Los Angeles,” said the Croatian with a laugh. “When is that, 2028? You know what’s going on in his head. It’s about achieving something for 24 hours.”

Djokovic’s coach sees the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as realistic

It remained unclear whether Djokovic really already has plans for the Summer Games in the USA, which follow Paris in 2024. With the next Grand Slam title, he would now also leave the Australian Margaret Court behind as the women’s record holder. “If he wins 25, he’ll think: If I win 25, why not 26? There is always one more,” said former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic (51) about his protégé’s way of thinking.

Djokovic himself assessed the finite nature of his career with a joke: “Players come and go. It will be the same fate for me,” he said. “Ultimately I will leave tennis in about 23, 24 years.”