Novak Djokovic is all set to begin his 2025 Australian Open campaign on January 12. Despite having won the event 10 times already, the 37-year-old isn’t willing to hang up his boots. Alongside Andy Murray as his new coach, Djokovic is set to compete against the young stars for yet another title. After the retirement of his biggest rival and friend Rafael Nadal, fans have already started wondering what Nole’s post-tennis life would look like. Amid rumors of joining politics after retirement, Djokovic has stepped forward to address whether he’s actually going to be a diplomat.

Novak Djokovic enjoys immense popularity in Serbia. Many believe he might even win a presidential election if he steps into politics. However, the tennis legend has made it clear that he has no such ambitions. Addressing the speculations in an interview with the GQ magazine, Djokovic said, “The way I see it right now: outside of politics. First of all, I have to say because a lot of people are asking me whether I want to be a politician one day because they think I should run for president of Serbia. And right now, I’m definitely not interested in that because I think that the political scene or political world in our region is not good at all.

The Serb further went on to add, “Not to use any harsher words, but I don’t see how I would be able, personally, to thrive for my country and to be able to give to my country what my country deserves in a way that wouldn’t be—how can I say? I’m not educated for politics. So even in the future, if I would think about something like that, I would first go through a period of education.” 

Reflecting on the political situation in the Balkans region with Serbia and Kosovo being embroiled in border tensions, he said, “I would love to see a bit more peaceful, a bit more friendlier relationships in the region. Collaborative.” Djokovic believes the region must move forward despite its painful past, concluding, “At the end of the day, are we going to move forward? And how are we going to move forward?” Through his words, Djokovic emphasizes hope, unity, and the power of shared cultural identity to bridge divides.

Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and grew up during the turbulent Balkan wars of the 1990s, the Serb has always hoped for peaceful terms. Yugoslavia, once a federation of six republics, disintegrated following the collapse of the Soviet Union, leading to a decade of conflict. The breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s led to devastating conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, and later Kosovo, causing over 120,000 deaths.

Apart from talking about regional issues, Djokovic also reflected on his rivalry with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and showered praises on them.

Djokovic Reflects on Rivals, Rising Stars, and Tennis Legacy

Turning to his rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic reflected on their unique significance in tennis history. “They’ve been an integral part of my success and the history that I made of the sport,” he said. The Serbian concluded by acknowledging the top rivals and mentioning how hard it is for top competitors to maintain close friendships, but the respect between them remains undeniable.

Nole stated, “I try to be always respectful and friendly to them off the court. But I didn’t have the acceptance early on because I went out on the court saying and showing that I’m confident that I want to win. And I don’t think that both of them maybe liked that in the early days.”. For Novak, the rivalries and relationships with Federer and Nadal are eternal, leaving a legacy that will last forever.

When asked to describe tennis legends and rising stars in one word, Novak Djokovic delivered quick and accurate titles. For Roger Federer, he chose “Elegance.” For Rafael Nadal, it was “Tenacity.” For Carlos Alcaraz, “Charisma.” And for Jannik Sinner, “Skiing.” Reflecting on Sinner, Djokovic laughed about his connection to skiing, a sport the Italian is skillful in, apart from tennis.

The 37-year-old has always tried to guide younger players on tour. Talking about his interactions with them, he said, “We talk, we joke around, we smile. And I think that’s nice because it’s hard to maybe go deeper than that when you’re at the top level.” However, he admitted, “You don’t maybe want to share too much because you’re still at the top.”

Alcaraz and Sinner are going to pose a significant challenge for Djokovic in the upcoming Australian Open. But given his record in Melbourne, on can write Djokovic off only at their own peril.