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‘I Like My Space to Expand’: Novak Djokovic on Finally Getting His Golden Slam, What Might Come Next…and His Dream Acting Gig

Could be fun.

I’d watch it.

With Jim Carrey. That’s the dream. He’s amazing—his facial expressions, his impersonations. I was always into this, because I did impersonations, early on in my career, of other tennis players, which kind of went viral.

[Editor’s note: Google Djokovic’s impersonations of his former coach Boris Becker, Maria Sharapova, or, most recently, a certain hanging-up-the-phone motion that Ben Shelton used to perform but has since retired.]

That’s a lot of creative pursuits.

I’m also passionate about wellbeing, health, recovery, sports science, biotech, fintech, and medtech. I’m very into these things. It’s a very broad field of interests, but a lot of my investments are in these areas and I’m trying to do different partnerships with big brands across them. My team and I are trying to connect all the dots so that we can create a legacy of really strong brands. Ultimately, I would like to expand my brand outside of tennis and outside of philanthropy into business, wellness areas, and more.

Wow.

Yeah. [Laughing.] There’s a lot going on. I think my agent and business advisor is probably overwhelmed with everything on his agenda—only he knows—but it’s exciting times, because in a certain way, it’s kind of also a transition for me.

Tell me more about that.

I’m seeing tennis more as a platform—an extension of my arm to all of these things that I can develop.

Once, or as you’re about to, say goodbye?

As I’m entering whatever last phase this is of my career. And I don’t know how long it’s going to last—I don’t put a limit to it.

Last question, and it’s around the acronym GOAT. We’ve seen some athletes really lean into it. Do you like the term? Do you think it’s silly? Does it even cross your mind?

I think it started to become quite present only five, seven years ago, or something like that. If the GOAT discussion is something that gets people really interested in tennis, I support that. I love that. I’m not going to say what I think about it, though, and who the GOAT is. I’ll leave that to other people to discuss. I don’t think I’m in a position…I don’t think it’s my spot to be discussing that. I have to be respectful of previous generations, and the sport of tennis has evolved so much with technology—even with the racquet itself—so that it’s kind of hard to say. People love to debate how somebody like Björn Borg, or Rod Laver, or John McEnroe would do in this era, or me in any of theirs. We will never know. I’m just honored to be part of that group, honored to call myself a student of the history of tennis and of the game. Even though I’ve seen them many times, it still gives me goosebumps when I meet these guys—these legends—every single time.

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