Novak Djokovic makes tennis retirement plan after dad leaks private intentions

Novak Djokovic has opened up about life after top-level tennis at the Shanghai Masters after his father disclosed one of his son's key intentions

Novak Djokovic has spoken of his desire to stay in tennis after his father leaked details of his son’s retirement plans.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner is still going strong at the age of 37, finally adding Olympic gold to his glittering CV in Paris this summer. Djokovic could even have another four years left in him after hinting he could play at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

However, the Serbian great has naturally given plenty of thought to life after top-level tennis, and it includes giving something back to the sport which has given him so much. Speaking ahead of his first match at the Shanghai Masters today (Saturday), Djokovic declared: "My love for tennis will never fade away.

"I have a lot of emotions when I'm playing, and not particularly only in the tournament, but also practice sessions. Sometimes it's not always going your way, but I think my relationship with tennis goes much deeper than a tournament or a year or success or failure.”

He added: "It's just a sport that I fell in love with when I was very young and I still have the love for the sport. Even when I retire from professional tennis, I feel like I'm going to stay in tennis, stay involved in different roles because I feel like I owe this sport a lot for what it has been giving to me."

Djokovic’s father Srdjan recently shed more light on his son’s intensions after retirement. With properties in New York and Monaco, Novak and his family could settle anywhere in the world.

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However, Srdjan has revealed his son’s plan to return to his home city of Belgrade. He said: "When Novak finishes his tennis career, he will live in his city Belgrade, his country Serbia.

"I think there is no greater satisfaction, pride and success than your child spreading the glory of his people and his country all over the world."

Novak snapped up a three-bedroom penthouse in New Belgrade, overlooking Lake Pavlova, for a £505k back in 2018. His impressive property portfolio also includes a luxury apartment in New York's SoHo district, which he splashed £7.5million on in 2017. He has also purchased swish homes in Monaco and Marbella over the years.

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