Novak Djokovic has two more years of tennis planned and a very clear reason why

For years Novak Djokovic dodged the question. Now he has answered it clearly.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has confirmed that he intends to retire at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, a timeline that surprised many who expected the 38-year-old Serb to call time on his career far sooner.

"I wish to retire at the 2028 Olympic Games with the Serbian flag in my hands," Djokovic said at a press conference in Athens, where he now lives.

The statement was brief but significant. After years of deflecting retirement questions, Djokovic had finally given a concrete answer and it pointed to at least two more years of professional tennis.

The announcement arrived against a backdrop of growing concern over his physical condition. Djokovic withdrew from both the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters due to injury in recent weeks, his second and third withdrawals in quick succession this year.

The wear and tear of a career spanning more than two decades is increasingly visible at 38, and each fresh injury setback adds weight to the question of whether his body can hold up until 2028.

The timing of the announcement was also notable given the circumstances surrounding his move to Athens. Djokovic relocated to Greece earlier this year, sparking a wave of criticism back in Serbia from fans who questioned where his loyalties now lay.

His retirement statement was widely seen as a direct response to that backlash.

"All my life, my career, I've been planning for years what I want and how I want it to be. That's why I achieved absolutely all possible goals. I said for the 2028 Olympics because I wanted to play for so many more years, and maybe to finish on the Olympic Games with the Serbian flag," Djokovic said.

The 2024 Paris Olympics remain one of the most emotional moments of his career. Djokovic won singles gold by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final, describing it as one of the most significant victories of his life.

Repeating or building on that achievement in Los Angeles two years from now appears to be the goal that is keeping him going.

Whether he can remain competitive at that level is a genuine question. Djokovic had a strong start to 2026, reaching the Australian Open final before losing to Alcaraz.

Since then his season has stalled due to injury, and he has managed only a 7-2 win-loss record across the year so far. His most recent match was a fourth-round loss at Indian Wells to Jack Draper in March.

He is expected to target the Madrid Open and the Italian Open during the clay court swing, two tournaments where he has historically dominated, winning three titles in Madrid and six in Rome. Whether those appearances materialise will depend on his fitness in the coming weeks.

"He's not that far away, it just feels like he is, at least from Alcaraz and Sinner. I wouldn't want him to be a player that slowly fades away and he's ranked No. 50 and playing in the US Open. But I would like to see if he can get that 25th major if he gives it at least one more year," Tennis Channel analyst Jimmy Arias said.

Djokovic himself has been candid about the challenge.

"That adrenaline rush, it's almost like a drug," he said ahead of the Australian Open in January.

"I'm still living my dream to be honest. It's passion and love for the game."

At the same time he has acknowledged that his body now requires extended recovery periods between tournaments, a reality that limits how often he can compete at his best.

He will be 41 years old when the Los Angeles Olympics begin in July 2028. The Olympic tennis format uses best-of-three sets rather than the best-of-five used at Grand Slams, which reduces the physical demand and makes the tournament a more realistic target for an older player.