Novak Djokovic, the last remaining exemplar of tennis's glorious "Big Four," plods on in Shanghai at the Masters, but this road is paved with age and ghosts. Coming off a grueling quarterfinal against Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, whom he beat 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4, Djokovic spoke about the emotional toll of seeing long-time rivals—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray—retire while he continues to push his body and mind to stay at the pinnacle of the sport.
Nadal, set to retire two months from now after the Davis Cup Finals, has been Djokovic's fiercest rival. "Nadal has been my greatest rival. The rivalry I had with him has impacted me the most in my career by far," Djokovic admitted, reflecting on their storied battles that spanned over two decades. Federer, who retired in 2022, and Murray, set to bow out after the 2024 Paris Olympics, also defined an era of unprecedented excellence in men's tennis. It is a heavy personal and professional loss for Djokovic when the collective retirements are in question. "We knew that moment was coming sooner or later, but it's still a shock," he confessed. "Part of me left with them—a big part of me."
But though the burden is heavy emotionally, the will of Djokovic remains firm. His victory over 18-year-old Mensik was not only a test of his physical endurance but also his mental resilience, which has propelled him to 24 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian champion admitted that facing more young players keeps his competitive fire burning. "Matches like this, against teenagers, really motivate me. It keeps me going and pushes me to dig deep and show the world that I still have it in my legs."
Born a year after Djokovic's debut on the ATP Tour, Mensik presented an exemplary challenge to the veteran. Djokovic used his experience to outplay the Czech teenager with tactical acumen to book his 78th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final berth, surpassing Nadal's previous record. "These moments remind me that I still belong at this level," Djokovic said, his confidence not diminishing despite the passing years.
Now Djokovic will face Fritz, ranked seventh, in the semi-finals. Fritz qualified after his victory over David Goffin in 6-3, 6-4, which promises to be a test not only of power but precision as well. Realistic as ever, Djokovic knows exactly what to expect. "I'm going to face a big server tomorrow, so I have to be ready for another tough match," he noted. We are now at the final stage of the tournament; it is time to pick things up.
As Djokovic speaks of the future, thoughts always fall into the past. With the retirements of Nadal, Federer, and Murray, an era is about to come to a close that will have defined men's tennis for nearly two decades. And still, Djokovic stands tall, carrying the torch of the Big Four legacy bright and burgeoning. "Though they are no longer beside me, I continue," he said in reflection, competitive fire burning in his eyes. As Djokovic advances in the Shanghai Masters, what is apparently clear is that although his era is fading into the sunset, success hunger still knocks right on his door.
