Novak Djokovic, despite not quite being at the unparalleled level he once held, is still competing at the very apex of the sport.
After all, having just turned 38 yesterday, he has still strolled into the semi-finals of an ATP 250 event, remaining the overwhelming favourite to claim that title ahead of the French Open next week.
This is a feat that not just any player could do, with the Serbian remaining a player that nobody would want to see in their section of a draw. Djokovic plays Cam Norrie later today for a place in the Geneva final.
And yet, despite showing glimpses of the relentless and dominant force he once was, there are some who seem ready for him to retire.
Boris Becker, whilst not pushing him out of the door, has certainly hinted at it when talking about the future of his former trainee.
Boris Becker hints at Novak Djokovic’s retirement
In fact, speaking to The Independent, the German offered some advice for the 24-time Grand Slam champion given his recent form.
After all, as Novak Djokovic himself would admit, he is not at the level he would like to be.
Shock first-round defeats and retirements are the furthest things we have come to expect from a competitor such as him, but time has to catch up with everyone eventually.
That is the notion that Becker has sought to emphasise, claiming: ‘I think he has tennis left in him, but he has to be realistic.
‘He’s not getting any younger, he cannot play forever. Those are the facts. You have to deal with reality and start to think about how much longer you have to play. That would be a wise thing to do.’
Novak Djokovic is still competing at the top of tennis
As touched on earlier, Djokovic is far from finished competing for big titles in this sport.
After all, it’s easy to forget that, whilst he failed to win an ATP event last year, he did still win Olympic gold, beating Carlos Alcaraz to do so.
Not only that, but he also reached the final of Wimbledon and the semi-finals of the Australian Open. This is a year that eclipses many players’ entire careers.
Even now in Geneva, what he is doing deserves so much praise, but because of his greatness and the expectation that brings, it has gone unappreciated.
There’s still every chance that, should he remain fit, Djokovic could fly under the radar and become a very serious threat at the French Open next week.
