Novak Djokovic says hungry, young tennis players "awaken a beast" in him

2023 was the year Novak Djokovic turned 36. It also marked the year he declared game, set, match on the men’s tennis debate over the GOAT, the greatest of all-time. Djokovic has 24 major singles titles now, two more than his longtime rival Rafael Nadal, four more than Roger Federer. Next month, Djokovic heads to the Australian Open—an event he’s already won 10 times… last month, he invited us to his hometown, and took us inside the catacombs of his mind, sharing insight on how to ascend to the top level of sports… and stay there.

It was a late morning workout in Belgrade, Serbia, and Novak Djokovic let us in on a key to his staggering success: forget speed or strength…. flexibility enables him to perform feats like this…

It’s also enabled him to contort and twist the laws of time.

Jon Wertheim: You are beating players right now, good players, who are closer in age to your kids than they are to you. How much satisfaction does that (Djokovic laugh) give you? You like that?

Novak Djokovic: (laugh) I don’t know if that sounds good to be honest. But yeah, I think the young guys who are very hungry and very inspired to play their best tennis against me is an additional motivation. I think they kind of awaken a beast in me.

Djokovic is no longer chasing records, he’s creating them. His stubborn habit of winning major titles started in 2008…and it’s gone on…and on…half of his 24 coming after he turned 30, most recently last September’s U.S. Open…. he says that he may not be as fast as he once was, but he’s wiser and more accurate.

Jon Wertheim: Give us a sense of the size of the target you’re aiming for.

Novak Djokovic: (laugh) Like this. A little coin. At times, yes. At times, yes. At times…

Jon Wertheim: You’re being serious?

Novak Djokovic: I’m serious. You know, at times, I’m aiming you know this size. Sometimes I’m aiming for this size. It depends on– in the moment of the match, who am I playing against, what the tactic is