Novak Djokovic has revealed that he is deliberately scaling back his tennis schedule as he looks to create more room for his family and pursue interests away from the demands of professional competition.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion says he is no longer interested in maintaining the relentless tournament schedule that defined much of his career, preferring instead to strike a balance between tennis and his responsibilities away from the court.
“I’m not playing, competing in many tournaments nowadays, not even close as much as I did for 20 years. And I choose to do that because I also would like to spend more time with my family.”
Novak Djokovic
The Serbian superstar explained that his priorities have evolved after two decades at the highest level. Rather than allowing tennis to consume his entire life, he wants to dedicate greater attention to his roles as a husband, father, son and brother while developing other interests.
“Football could leave a big hole you have to fill,” Cristiano Ronaldo recently said about retirement, but Djokovic’s own approach reflects a different kind of transition. He remains committed to tennis, although his schedule now reflects a conscious attempt to protect his life outside the sport.
“Tennis, of course, remains still the centre of my professional life. But I also like to find a balance and that’s why I have a revised schedule.”
Novak Djokovic
A Career Already Etched in Tennis History
Djokovic’s decision to reduce his workload comes after one of the most decorated careers the sport has witnessed. He holds the men’s record with 24 Grand Slam singles titles, including 10 Australian Open crowns, seven Wimbledon titles, four US Open victories and three Roland Garros triumphs.
His achievements extend well beyond the four majors. Djokovic is the only player to have completed the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, and he has accomplished the feat twice. His 40 Masters 1000 titles are also a record.
The Serbian also completed the Career Grand Slam in 2016, when his first Roland Garros triumph made him the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to simultaneously hold all four major titles.
Even at 39, Djokovic continues to challenge the younger generation. At the 2026 Australian Open, he reached his record-extending 11th final before losing to Carlos Alcaraz, while his run made him the first player to surpass 400 Grand Slam match victories.
He also reached the 2026 Wimbledon semi-finals, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set quarter-final before losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Along the way, he surpassed Roger Federer’s record for men’s singles wins at Wimbledon.
Olympic Dream Still Drives Djokovic
Despite his reduced schedule, Djokovic has not abandoned one final major ambition. The Serbian wants to continue competing at the highest level and ultimately bring his career to a close at the Olympics. “I still hope that I can push all the way through to the Olympics and be able to finish my career in that way,” he said.
That ambition carries particular significance after Djokovic finally won Olympic singles gold at the Paris 2024 Games, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The victory completed his collection of tennis’s biggest honours and made him one of only a select group of men to combine all four Grand Slam titles with Olympic gold.
For Djokovic, however, the next chapter is not simply about adding more trophies. His comments suggest that the definition of success is gradually changing. “With a Serbian flag on my shoulders,” he said, outlining his hope of finishing his career on the Olympic stage.
After more than 20 years of extraordinary demands, Djokovic appears determined to control the final phase of his career rather than allow the sport to dictate it. The records may continue to grow, but his latest priority is making sure there is life beyond them.
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