Davydenko on when Djokovic will retire: "He is trying to deceive nature"

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Nikolay Davidenko retired from tennis already 10 years ago when he was 33, a few years younger than Roger Federer (41) and Rafa Nadal (38) when it was their turn. In a recent interview for the Match TV, the former Russian number 3 discussed how perhaps Novak Djokovic might be aiming to surpass his top rivals in longevity, as at 38, Nole still has a lot to offer. Therefore, Davydenko also commented on the doping positives of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek.

- Age is just a number for Djokovic

"Nadal wasn't even 40 years old and couldn't physically compete with top 50 professionals at the same level. It's useless. At 40, Federer tried to show he was tough, but he didn't prove anything. Djokovic is now doing the same, trying to show age does not matter. Novak is trying to deceive nature, but he can only do it for a couple of years. We are not robots. The physical burdens are heavy, injuries happen. Take any current tennis player for example: they all had, have, or will have health problems. Everyone ends their career due to injuries that limit us in our training."

- When will Djokovic retire?

"He's trying to deceive nature. Let's see if he succeeds. Perhaps he wants to surpass Federer and Nadal's record of longest career. Roger ended at 41, maybe Novak aims to reach that age. Maybe he will play fewer tournaments."

- On Sinner's doping case

"Sinner is playing very well, he is great. I like his tactics on the court; it's not about doping. I saw him in 2019, compared to now, the difference is quite substantial. Jannick started playing differently. The tactics have changed significantly, so many don't have time to keep up with him. Half of the players now say he's winning because of doping. Should I say Mariano Puerta beat me due to doping at Roland Garros in 2005? I was physically exhausted, and he wasn't, but I don't know if doping helped him. I won't shout to the press that it's bad, but I will admit my fault and mistake as a coach. For instance, Nick Kyrgios. He's always shouting, a showman. He says all kinds of nonsense on and off the court and will continue to do so. We will hear about him over and over again."

- And about Swiatek and her positive for a contaminated drug?

"You go to the pharmacy, buy a bronchial pill, and it contains salbutamol, which is considered doping. You always have to be in contact with a sports doctor; it's a shame. They won't make you a better player with a pill. Tennis is tennis; you won't become world number 1 thanks to doping. It used to be easier to control doping, but now it has worsened. It's starting to get crazy. It was easier when I played. We were also under pressure, but we took it normally. I wasn't too worried; I drank and ate everywhere without even thinking that I could dope myself. I don't know why they have tightened control so much; there is no result. The ATP needs to address this because overall, it's a great organization that is loyal to the players."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Davydenko, sobre cuándo se retirará Djokovic: "Está intentando engañar a la naturaleza"