{"id":40555,"date":"2025-04-12T08:32:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-12T08:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=40555"},"modified":"2025-04-12T08:32:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T08:32:33","slug":"jim-courier-reveals-one-and-only-reason-why-novak-djokovic-is-still-playing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=40555","title":{"rendered":"Jim Courier reveals one and only reason why Novak Djokovic is still playing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jim Courier says Novak Djokovic still being active is “mindboggling” but also adds that’s the case because the Serb wants to write more tennis history and become the first male or female player with 25 Grand Slams in singles.<\/p>\n

It wasn’t a secret that after passing Roger Federer, Djokovic also wanted to beat out Rafael Nadal for the all-time Grand Slam record. And after the Serb got to 24 Majors and the Spaniard retired last year, the current world No. 5 accomplished his main goal.<\/p>\n

However, the Serb – who turns 38 next month – remains active despite evidently not being his usual self for quite some time. While some are calling for the record 24-time Grand Slam champion to call it a career, Courier believes there is one reason why the 37-year-old is still active.<\/p>\n

“Something that is still mindboggling, Djokovic is still active. He’s chasing his 25th Major and I think he’s very, very capable of getting it. We’ll see if he is able to,” the former four-time Grand Slam winner said in an interview for the Questions for Cancer Research organization.<\/p>\n

Courier suggests Djokovic may be mentally fatigued<\/h2>\n

Last year, Djokovic didn’t win a single Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017. But he still accomplished his main goal – winning his first Olympic gold medal.<\/p>\n

Since then, the Serb hasn’t had much success and he has had a couple of shock defeats in 2025 – with the most recent coming this week against Alejandro Tabilo.<\/p>\n

“I know Pete was really mentally fatigued at the end of his career, as was I. It was a grind… With the never-ending calendar and tennis events. Federer in particular set the bar for how to schedule for longevity… Federer figured out a hack which is that ‘Even though I’m required to play these tournaments, I’m not going to. And they’ll just have to deal with my absence because I want to have a long run here,'” Courier added.<\/p>\n