Madrid Open: Novak Djokovic playing for the ‘older guys’ as new generation takes over
The 37-year-old, the last member of the sport’s ‘Big Four’ still standing, says he is carrying on to bring a ‘positive effect’ to the tour
Novak Djokovic has acknowledged the generational shift in tennis that has brought a new crop of players into the limelight but the 24-time grand slam champion said on Thursday he had no intention of quietly fading into the background.
The 37-year-old won three out of the four major titles in 2023 but has not been able to reproduce that kind of form since, being shut out of the game’s biggest tournaments last year as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz took two apiece.
With the retirements of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray – who is now his coach – Djokovic is the last member of the “Big Four” still standing and the Serb said he wanted to continue giving to the sport.
“The last 20 years were dominated mostly by the four of us and when three of my biggest rivals retired you can feel there’s a shift,” Djokovic said at the Madrid Open, where he will face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the second round tomorrow.
“Not only in terms of the generations of players [who now have] the main focus and attention on them, but it takes a bit of time for people to accept the fact that Roger and Rafa are not playing, and Murray, and one day myself.
“But I’m still trying to stay and represent the older guys, the older generation. Hopefully that brings the positive effect to the tournaments and to the tour itself,” he added.