Novak Djokovic reflects on his journey as the last of the "Big Four." © Twitter (@espn)
Former world number one Novak Djokovic, the last surviving member of tennis’ “Big Four,” has expressed his determination to continue rivalry at the highest level, even as he grapples with the retirements of his illustrious rivals—Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal. This trio, alongside Djokovic, dominated the sport for nearly two decades, collectively winning an astounding 69 Grand Slam titles and producing unforgettable matches that will be etched in tennis history.
The recent announcement by Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who is set to retire after next month’s Davis Cup, has hit Djokovic hard. Nadal, known for his record 14 French Open titles, has been a significant figure in Djokovic’s career, and their intense rivalry has shaped both players profoundly. After defeating Czech player Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters, Novak Djokovic reflected on the emotional toll of his peers’ retirements.
“(Nadal) has been my greatest rival. The rivalry I had with him has impacted me the most in my career by far,” Djokovic shared. “We knew that moment was coming sooner than later, but it’s still a shock. Roger a few years ago, when he announced retirement, and Andy as well this year. I mean, it’s a bit overwhelming for me to be honest. I still enjoy competing, but part of me left with them, a big part of me.”
Semi-Finals Ahead
In a hard-fought match against Mensik, Djokovic emerged victorious with a scoreline of 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4. The 18-year-old Mensik, who was born over a year after Djokovic’s first ATP Tour match in 2004, pushed the Serbian to his limits, showcasing the rising talent in tennis today. Djokovic’s win marked his progression to a record-extending 78th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final—two more than Nadal.
“These kinds of matches, against teenagers, really motivate me,” Djokovic said post-match. “It keeps me going and pushes me to dig deep and show the world that I still got it in my legs, that I can still go the distance with the young guys. I’m super glad that I managed to win this very challenging match.”
Next, Djokovic faces world number seven Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals on Saturday, who defeated Belgian David Goffin 6-3, 6-4 earlier in the day. Djokovic acknowledged the challenge that lies ahead, stating, “I’m going to have a big server opponent tomorrow, Fritz, so I have to be ready for another difficult match. Quick conditions give a big advantage to good servers.”
As the tournament approaches its final stages, Djokovic is focused on raising his game even higher. “Now is the time for me to really try to step it up even more, and hopefully, I can get a chance to be in the finals,” he added, underscoring his relentless pursuit of success on the court.
