Novak Djokovic has brushed off concerns about his fire after a shaky Indian Wells exit, signaling he’s still got plenty left to give—though not for the world No. 1 spot. The 37-year-old tennis titan, now fifth in the rankings after ruling for over 400 weeks, faced raised eyebrows when he flashed a grin despite a stunning loss to Botic van de Zandschulp earlier this month. Critics, including ex-pro CoCo Vandeweghe, questioned his mental edge, with her noting on Tennis Channel, “He’s smiling too much after losses—has he gotten too cozy with defeat?”
Djokovic answered with a 6-1, 7-6(1) third-round win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli at the Miami Open on Sunday, notching his record 411th ATP Masters 1000 victory and inching toward a 100th singles title. Post-match, he laid bare a shift in focus: “World No. 1’s not my goal anymore. If it happens from big wins, great—but I’m here to play my best at Grand Slams and key events. My schedule’s tighter now; I’m not chasing points like before. Winning a Slam or a big title trumps the ranking for me.”
The comments douse fears sparked by his laid-back vibe in California, where a three-loss skid—Australian Open retirement to Alexander Zverev, Qatar Open defeat to Matteo Berrettini, and Indian Wells—had some doubting his hunger. There, he’d admitted, “The last few years have been a struggle to hit my peak—it’s torture at times.” Yet, his Miami showing and teaming up with Andy Murray as coach, praised by Andrew Castle as proof he “still cares,” suggest the 24-time Grand Slam champ’s far from done. For Djokovic, it’s clear: the slams are the prize, and he’s not ready to fade out just yet.
