Inat and the recipe for being Djokovic
Tennis star Novak Djokovic continues to compete at the highest level as he approaches age 40, driven by a Serbian concept of stubborn resilience known as 'Inat'. A new documentary directed by Jason Hehir explores his career, mental grit, and status as one of the sport's greatest players.
Why it matters
It highlights the evolving standards of athletic longevity and the cultural factors influencing elite sports performance.
Novak Djokovic is the undisputed poster boy of sports longevity. He turns 40 in 2027, and at 39, his ATP ranking is No. 5. He embodies longevity as the world knows it today. When it comes to winning, Djoko or Nole, as he is known among fans, still pushes out the fangs. He defeated World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a four-plus-hour battle in the semi-final of the Australian Open in 2026 itself.
A question that haunts the tennis world: “Will Djokovic retire soon?” Given his momentum, that question is starting to feel stale, and as the documentary reveals, it annoys him. “If I can still be a top 10 player and compete at the highest level, why should I stop?” he asks.
Novak Djokovic with Marian Vajda, Gebhard Gritsch and Miljan Amanovic. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in