Djokovic At 36 Is Hungry Like A Teenager Says Former World No. 2 Haas
ATP
Former ATP World No. 2 Tommy Haas believes the best players in the current era have greater longevity than in yesteryears.
Haas was quoted in Puntodebreak where he shared his thoughts on how 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic continues to stay grounded and motivated to perform even at 36. Haas made a fascinating reference in regard to this, saying Djokovic's hunger is similar to a teenager.
In past interviews, and most recently at the US Open where Djokovic won his fourth title in September, he dismissed talks of retirement now that he's conquered almost every imaginable streak, and is statistically the greatest tennis player of all time.
Djokovic is aware he is at the twilight of his playing career but sees no reason why he should stop when the desire to compete at the highest level is still there and he is still a contender in every tournament he plays. Case in point is how Djokovic contested the final of every Grand Slam in 2023.
Haas officially retired from the sport at 40, but was hardly as dominant as compared to his peak years. The likes of Pete Sampras and Boris Becker retired much earlier.
The fact that Djokovic has stayed at the very top at 36 sets him apart from the rest according to Haas. The German explained that the Serbian's mentality is not something you can teach, but an innate ability that he's got at his disposal.
"People know how hard it is to get to the top of the world in this sport, especially now that good people are playing longer. Pete Sampras and Boris Becker retired at 30, but Djokovic at 36 is hungry like a teenager, that's his mentality."
"When he tells stories about how he grew up during the war and dreamed of giving his family a better life… you can't learn that, you either have it or you don't."- Haas as quoted on puntodebreak
