Andre Agassi sees parallels between himself and Novak Djokovic when it comes to the final stages of a tennis career.
by Florian Goosmann
last edited: December 28, 2024, 8:36 a.m
© getty
Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic have a lot in common. Not just a short collaboration in 2018. But also the farewell of the biggest competitors while they were still active – or in the case of the Serb: still are.
Agassi fought his biggest duels against players like Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Jim Courier – and of course Pete Sampras. But everyone gradually ended their careers, except for Agassi. After Sampras retired in 2002 (after the US Open victory in the final against Agassi), he felt a corresponding emptiness, as he did as part of the TiE Global Summit in Bengaluru reported a few days ago.
And he feels exactly this problem with Novak Djokovic: His biggest rivals are now also retired from tennis – Roger Federer since 2022, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal for a few weeks.
“I think he’s running out of energy rather than his skills,” Agassi said of Djokovic’s situation. Especially because the people he came to the dance with had left the dance floor. “When Pete retired I had to find my inspiration again. Djokovic has lost the guys with whom he made history. That’s emotionally tougher.” Nevertheless, says the eight-time major champ, “I would never bet against him.”
Alcaraz mit dem Djokovic-/Nadal-/Federer-Package
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz received praise from the old master. Alcaraz defends like Djokovic, has the power and spin of Nadal and the hand and finesse like Federer.
“But just because he has the best of all three doesn’t mean he can do what they did.” Because there are a lot of things that can decide a career: making decisions, injuries, luck… “They are many things involved.”
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Novak Djokovic
2024-12-28 07:08:00