Djokovic: I felt like my tank was half empty when I stepped on the court, more worried about my body than ever before.

“Djokovic never eases up.” This is the common view of this tennis icon. Following his victory in the US Open third round, he reaffirmed his desire for Grand Slam titles. At the same time, his statements revealed a thoughtful, philosophical approach—despite the tough 2025 season, he is still prepared to make sacrifices for glory.

Now 38 years old, Djokovic stands at a familiar crossroads: his motivation and passion remain strong, but the physical toll is increasingly evident. During a match, he admitted to minor back discomfort, acknowledging, “Physiological age cannot be reversed.”

Nonetheless, he firmly believes he can still compete at the highest level. “I still feel I have the strength to fight for another Grand Slam. As long as that feeling persists, I will keep pushing myself to see if I can win one more.” With his win over Norrie, he has reached the US Open round of 16 and will face Germany’s Struff next.

After defeating Norrie, Djokovic openly shared that the physical issues he faced early in the tournament had worried him, and this victory marked his 192nd win on hard courts in Grand Slam events.

“Honestly, I was really concerned. More than ever before,” Djokovic said. “Even though I take meticulous care of my body and spend a lot of time both on and off the court ensuring I stay in top shape and recover quickly, age is inevitable. Things are different now.”

He revealed that he has had to modify his training to accommodate his body's changes. “Sometimes, between matches, I don’t train at all. After discussions with my team, we decided that long-term recovery is more important than hitting extra balls on the court. Tomorrow might be the same—we still need to discuss it further. But the focus is on recovery and preparing for the next match.”

This mindset has defined Djokovic’s entire 2025 season. He reached the semifinals in all three Grand Slams this year but was held back by injuries. At the Australian Open semifinal, he withdrew due to a muscle tear; at the French Open semifinal, he lost to Sinner and emotionally said, “This might be my last match here.” At Wimbledon, a fall in the quarterfinals affected his form, leading to another loss to Sinner. Djokovic admitted, “In the past year and a half, my body’s reality has hit harder than ever before.”

Yet, he has not given up. “This is definitely not farewell. I will return to Wimbledon at least one more time.” At 38, frequently asked about retirement and future plans, he candidly stated, “I do ask myself more often now how much longer I can keep going and how to schedule my tournaments to prolong my career.” After Rome this year, he has skipped all Masters events.

In an ESPN interview, when asked how much time he now spends on recovery during tournaments, Djokovic admitted it’s more than ever before. “Actually, probably even more than when I was younger. To keep pace with younger players, I have to spend an extra one or two hours—or more—each day on therapy, using various recovery devices, ensuring good sleep and nutrition. Every detail counts, especially in the later stages of tournaments.”

He acknowledged the growing gap between himself and younger players: “They come onto the court with a full tank, while sometimes I feel like mine is already half empty when I start. So, I’m going to try to change that this tournament, although I don’t know if I can. The body’s reaction is unpredictable. But what’s certain is that I will give my all, pouring every last drop of energy into trying to go further.”

Known for his strict discipline, Djokovic emphasized his enduring love for tennis and competition but also clearly recognizes that his body no longer responds as sharply as before. “I’ve done almost everything I can, just hoping to maximize the energy I have left.”

He is passionate about health and longevity, “This is almost my biggest interest in life. I’ve been researching how to be healthier, not just how to avoid illness. After this US Open, I might talk about some more philosophical topics. But for now, I’m focused solely on the challenges ahead.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)