Novak Djokovic came to conquer and he conquered. After years of dominating the sport, the 37-year-old Serb finally clinched his first Olympic gold, adding another milestone to his illustrious career. However, after years of relentless competition, Djokovic is ready to hit pause, as he shared an update on his future plans.

Djokovic is currently competing in the Davis Cup, where he admitted he needs a break to reflect and figure out what he truly wants from the remainder of his career. The Serb spoke to the media after his commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over world No. 770 Ioannis Wilas.

Talking about the necessity of a sabbatical to reevaluate his objectives, Djokovic said, “The ATP Finals and being at the top of the rankings are no longer objectives for me. I do not know if I will play the finals this year or next, but right now, what I need the most is physical, mental, and emotional rest to decide what comes next in my career, how much more I want to play, and where.”

The veteran also expressed uncertainty about his playing schedule following the Shanghai Masters 1000. He said, “I do not know when I will play after the Shanghai Masters 1000; my goal is not to play the final there, I am done with those tournaments; my priority is solely the Grand Slams and national team matches.” When asked how he stays motivated despite having spent such a long time on the tour, Djokovic shared, “Weeks like this are motivation for me and help me keep going; they are like an inspiration.”

Even though Djokovic is thinking about taking a break, he does not appear to be planning to retire anytime soon.

Novak Djokovic’s thoughts on retirement

After pursuing the Olympic gold medal for so long, Djokovic finally achieved it and joined the esteemed ranks of Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf. The 37-year-old is still motivated and keen to reach new goals, even though he has already achieved almost everything there is to win in tennis.

Despite winning the gold medal in Paris, Djokovic is not done with his Olympic aspirations. He is looking forward to representing Serbia four years down the line again, as he said, “I’ll try to make it to Los Angeles. I’d like to. The greatest pleasure is representing Serbia at the Olympic Games.”

Unlike his rivals Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic has largely managed to stay injury-free throughout his illustrious career. However, his meniscus tear at the French Open serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges that even the most resilient athletes can face. As Djokovic pauses to reassess his future, this injury could be a crucial factor in shaping his approach for the remainder of his career. Can he continue playing for the next 4 years to go for the Olympic gold again? What do you think?