Novak Djokovic is sharing his opinions on Serena Williams‘ tennis comeback in her 40s after retiring. The 44-year-old took a hiatus back in 2022. Now, four years later, she’s making a much-anticipated return to court.
However, Serena has faced multiple hurdles in her bid to cement her name in the tennis history books. Nevertheless, her colleague is proud of her attempt.
5While discussing his documentary, “Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter,” Djokovic shared his thoughts on Williams’ court comeback, describing her as “epic. “
The Serbian had high praise for the 44-year-old, saying, “I’ve always been a fan of what she’s doing after having two children, coming back and attempting to compete at the highest level in Slams. Regardless of what she does, it’s already incredibly inspiring.”
However, while the Serbian admired Serena’s determination to keep competing, he does not see himself going down the same path and playing into his 40s. The athlete shared that there was a lot more to consider than physical fitness, adding that he didn’t want to miss out on close family and friends’ events.
“I’ve lived an incredibly fulfilling, successful professional life,” Djokovic noted to PEOPLE Magazine. “In a sense, you have to be kind of selfish as an individual athlete to be pursuing your career, and everyone else is supportive of you.”
While the tennis player has no firm retirement date, he admits that he receives the question a lot: “I’d like to play till Olympics ‘28, which is in two years.”
Novak Djokovic’s Future In Tennis Under Question After Cincinnati Open Loss
5Speculation on Djokovic’s future sparked new conversations following the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s loss at the 2026 Cincinnati Open. The match was played against Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante.
During the match, the Serbian was seen to be physically struggling, even needing a medical timeout to complete the game. He had dropped to his knees mid-match and was allegedly seen throwing up into a towel, per The Blast.
This sparked mixed reactions among game watchers, with some questioning his health and how he was still playing at 39, while others blamed it on the intense heat of the day.
When asked about his possible future at the Cincinnati Open next year, the athlete left it open, neither confirming nor denying his appearance. He, however, declared that his performance had nothing to do with the weather.
Serena Williams Revealed The Real Reason For Her Tennis Comeback
5While Djokovic weighed in on his opinions on Serena’s resurgence, the record-breaking athlete had shared the reason behind her decision back in June.
Before her Wimbledon appearance, Serena shared that her daughter, Olympia Williams, was very influential in her decision to pick up her racket again, as reported by The Blast.
“Well, I think it’s going to be fun. My daughter Olympia told me that I should play with Venus,” the athlete said in reference to the 8-year-old. “She’s always right.”
The athlete also credited her sister Venus Williams and alpine skier Lindsey Vonn. She said that after watching them, she was heavily motivated and convinced to compete again.
Serena Williams Had To Give Herself A Pep Talk Ahead Of Wimbledon Return
5While the mother-of-two’s return to competition might have come as a surprise to the general public, Serena revealed that the decision did not come easily to her.
“I thought I should really take this opportunity. Who knows if I’ll ever make it here again. This could be it,” Serena shared about the difficult choice.
The Blast reported that the tennis legend admitted she had to do a lot of inner reflection due to a lot of self-doubt about the decision.
At the end of the day, she realized that not a lot of people got the opportunity she had been handed and decided to take the chance to showcase her skills on a global stage.
Serena And Venus Williams Got A Wildcard Entry To Play The US Open
5The comeback has not proved to be so easy for the 44-year-old. She was set to reunite with sister Venus at Wimbledon doubles; however, she had sustained a knee injury, causing her to withdraw.
The sisters then had their reunion at the Cincinnati Open, but it was cut short following this loss to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns, 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (8)
Now, the sisters have received a last-minute wildcard entry to the 2026 US Open Women’s Doubles Championship, per The Blast, where their much-awaited return could turn to a win.
