Novak Djokovic, the last of the Mohicans has already moved on

So here he is all alone. Not entirely, of course, since Rafael Nadal will only officially leave in five weeks, at the end of the Davis Cup final phase. But after Roger Federer, after Andy Murray, the Spaniard is also ready to begin his second life, that of post-tennis. Djokovic spoke “of a shock“. He said to himself “upset“. He assures that with the departure of these three, “a large part” of his own accord leaves with them. The fact remains that retirement is not for him. Not for now.

“I always want to play“, he recalled Friday evening after his victory in the quarter-final of the Shanghai Masters 1000 against Jakub Mensik. The young 19-year-old Czech would almost be the age of being his son. doubt one of the reasons why the Serbian wants to continue Because he still has ambition and he still feels competitive Even if 2024 saw him fall into line, when he gives himself the means, he. can still perform at an extremely high level, as evidenced by his career at the Olympic Games, particularly his exceptional final against Carlos Alcaraz.

“When we see the outings of Federer and Nadal, will Djokovic provoke the same emotions?”

He goes his own way

But he likes to rub shoulders with the new guard. He’s even interested in it. He likes being around her. The case of Mensik is revealing. “Jakub is someone I’ve been following for three or four years. We like to play together, our level increases when we play against each other“, said the “Djoker”, as if he were evoking a rival like Nadal. “We’ve done a lot of training together and it’s always a lot of fun“, he adds. A form of rejuvenation.

Even if he has his problems, like his operation on his right knee after Roland-Garros (he now has a creaky left one these days…), his body still allows him to compete, unlike Federer or Nadal who were pushed out by a dying physique. His head, his desire, his ego perhaps too, are irrigated by the affirmation of the new generation, starting with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“Novak is on a different path to Federer and Nadal in some ways“, believes Mats Wilander. Yes, he has moved on according to the former world number one and now consultant for Eurosport: “He surpassed them in number of Grand Slam titles, he has almost all the records. Nadal is no longer a threat to Djokovic. I think Novak is telling us, ‘Hey, I want to keep playing because these guys, Alcaraz, Sinner and the others, they’re so good that it pushes me to always try to be better.’.”

Djokovic suffered to reach the semi-final: his victory against Mensik on video

The era of the four musketeers was incredible

Novak Djokovic can also measure the impact that Federer and Nadal had on him. The source of motivation that the Spanish-Swiss tandem was for him who dreamed of rising above them, of becoming the greatest. For Sinner and Alcaraz, the situation is different today compared to the defunct Big 3, because they already occupy the first two places in the world and have just shared the four Grand Slam titles this year. But the carrot is more distant, historical: trying to get closer to the crazy accomplishments of the Big 3.

Now that Djokovic is the last vestige, a very living vestige, not a ruin, he still embodies for the young guard, not a permanent threat, but a tutelary figure, an essential point of reference which, as a bonus, is always likely to kick their butt from time to time. Even if the balance of power has changed. “I believe that Novak measures the effect that Rafa or Roger had on the new generation and he is part of it too, Wilander further notes. Djokovic’s effect on the physical dimension of Sinner and Alcaraz’s game today, and on all players, is undeniable. And he should be proud of that.”

At 37 years old, still a member of the Top 5 despite a lighter program, still competitive, and above all still motivated, Novak Djokovic has no reason to stop. The fate of those who accompanied most of his career does not matter. Not that it doesn’t count. He has played a cumulative total of 146 matches against Nadal (60), Federer (50) and Murray (36), including 21 Grand Slam finals. “The era of the four musketeers, so to speak, the four of us and all the rivalries we had, it was incredible“, he admits. Incredible, unsurpassable and incomparable. But there is life after all that. And Djokovic is determined to live it to the fullest.

Nadal, an underrated brilliant development?