Novak Djokovic says family now takes priority over tennis

Novak Djokovic has admitted that tennis is no longer his sole priority, stating that he must now balance his professional career with his roles as a father, husband, son, and brother. The 39-year-old Serbian player noted that managing these different responsibilities requires significant time and energy.

Djokovic acknowledged that he previously failed to fully grasp the level of sacrifice his relatives made to support his career for over two decades. He has recently been spending more time with his family members throughout Europe to address this. He described this shift in perspective as a work in progress.

This change in focus means that rest, recovery, and life away from the court now play a larger part in his preparation. The world No. 5 is currently attempting to manage the demands of being an elite athlete alongside his personal obligations.

Djokovic returns to competition at the Cincinnati Open, marking his first tournament since reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Jannik Sinner. He views the Cincinnati event as a way to find match sharpness before the US Open. He is a three-time winner of the Cincinnati title, with his most recent victory occurring in 2023 against Carlos Alcaraz.

His schedule has been limited in 2026, as he has only participated in the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and two Masters 1000 events. He currently holds a match record of 14 wins and 5 losses this year without having secured a title.