Serbian tennis legend, Novak Djokovic, has admitted that the retirement of his fiercest rivals, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, has left him feeling like a part of himself is gone.
At 38, Djokovic remains relentless in his pursuit of history, cruising past American teenager Learner Tien in straight sets to reach the second round of the US Open as he continues his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown.
Speaking on the Jay Shetty Podcast, the world No. 1 opened up about the void created by the departures of the trio who defined men’s tennis alongside him.
“When Federer, Nadal, and Murray, my greatest rivals, retired in the last couple of years, I felt like a part of me left with them,” Djokovic said.
“I thought it would be easy to shift my focus to new competitors, but it hasn’t been. I’ve seen the same faces across the net for nearly two decades, and now they’re gone.
“Of course, it’s the natural evolution of the sport, and new generations are coming in to take over, but it’s still something I’ve never experienced before. I’m just trying to embrace this journey.”
