Since winning his first tour title in 2006, Novak Djokovic is set to begin his 19th season near the summit of the tennis world. The Serbian great will return to action in Adelaide next week, competing in a warm-up event ahead of the Australian Open–a tournament where he has won a historic ten titles.
Such longevity across professional sport is a testament to Djokovic’s greatness, and something which was rarely seen in tennis prior to the era of the Big Three. Even as he approaches his 39th birthday, Djokovic remains a major force on tour, finishing 2025 as the World No.4 and continuing to defy expectations year after year.
Cristiano Ronaldo Praises Djokovic’s Longevity
Now, one of the biggest global stars in sport has publicly praised Djokovic’s enduring excellence. That athlete is none other than five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, himself synonymous with longevity and elite performance, highlighted Djokovic’s work ethic and drew parallels between their careers, noting the shared challenges of sustaining greatness well into their late thirties.
“For me, he is an example. When you have people as an example, he speaks the words coming from himself. So for me, he is an example in longevity. We have a similar story. So I think he deserves this because he is a great example for this generation, all generations, the generation that’s going to come.”
Djokovic responded in his usual gracious manner, calling Ronaldo’s comments a “true privilege.” The two sporting icons met at the Globe Soccer Awards, where Djokovic was honoured for his contributions to tennis and sport as a whole, being named Globe Sportsman of the Year.
Moments like these, where legends from different sports intersect, help draw new fans and wider attention to each discipline, particularly when names as globally recognised as Ronaldo and Djokovic are involved.
