Novak Djokovic confirms there is a major change coming to tennis which he wants to be a part of

Novak Djokovic returns to the court this week at the Six Kings Slam after his run to the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters.

Djokovic showed his class by keeping the focus on Valentin Vacherot after their match in Shanghai, with the latter going on to lift the trophy.

The ATP veteran left the event with his head held high after another lengthy run, with his sights now set on success at the Six Kings Slam.

The Six Kings Slam coverage has been criticized, but Djokovic will be fully focused on his semifinal with Carlos Alcaraz.

Along with his playing commitments in Riyadh, the Serbian was tasked with speaking at the Joy Forum, where he was joined by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and Dana White, CEO and President of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Novak Djokovic confirms there is a major change coming to tennis

Their business endeavours in and out of their respective sports were discussed, with Djokovic having been asked if he thinks his post-tennis career will be better the longer he plays, or if his athletic career is separate from his business career.

He replied: “I think it’s all integrated honestly. Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go.

“And I think if you see across all the global sports, LeBron James is still going strong, he’s 40. Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40-something years old.

“It’s unbelievable. They’re inspiring me as well. So I want to keep going, and that’s one of the motivations I have.

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“And then I want to also live to see – meaning still keep on playing professionally – the change that is coming for our sport. And I’m super excited about it.

“The things that are happening, obviously I can’t be openly speaking about it at the moment, but I feel like in the next couple of years… Dana was mentioning the next five years they’re going to transform boxing… I feel like tennis is also a sport that can be greatly and will be greatly transformed, and I want to be part of that change.

“I want to be not just part of the change, but I want to be playing when we kind of rejuvenate our sport and set the new platform that is going to go on for decades to come.”

Novak Djokovic drops further retirement hint which will ‘disappoint’ younger players

As Djokovic alluded to, he isn’t going away anytime soon, which was confirmed when it was proposed to him: “So these young guys are going to have to beat you into retirement, you’re not just going to go away?”

Smiling, the legendary figure responded: “It’s not happening, I’m sorry to disappoint them, it’s just not happening.”

The Serbian star turned 38 earlier this year, and looks set to appear at yet another season-ending ATP Finals.

Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz have already qualified, but Djokovic is right behind the leading duo in third place in the qualification standings.

Current form is very much on the side of the Italian and the Spaniard, but the Serbian boasts seven ATP Finals titles, more than any other player in the history of the event.

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