The warrior who tore his shirt after 101 titles, see you again in the 2026 season!

After a grueling three-hour battle in Athens that ended in victory, when Djokovic ripped open his shirt, we witnessed not only the passion of a 38-year-old veteran but also an immortal symbol of an era. From his youthful first title in Amersfoort, Netherlands, in 2006, to his 101st title in Athens in 2025, twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.

Over these two decades, the tennis world has witnessed Federer’s graceful perfection, Nadal’s relentless tenacity, the hesitant rise of 90s-born talents like Medvedev and Zverev, and the youthful storm brought by Alcaraz and Sinner. Djokovic has endured the trials of three generations, evolving from a raw teenager to one of the Big Three, and finally to the solitary GOAT. He is like a traveler through time, constantly redefining greatness amid changing rivals.

In Athens, Djokovic’s career came full circle. At his first title, he was a 19-year-old novice; now, he stands as the oldest champion on tour. Between these 101 titles lie 24 Grand Slams, 40 Masters 1000s, 7 year-end championships, and an Olympic gold medal... A path walked over twenty years that perfectly maps out a GOAT’s journey.

Even more astonishing, at the age of 38, he still claimed two titles in the 2025 season, finished in the year-end top four, and reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slams. While his peers have long retired to enjoy life, he remains at the center of the court, facing wave after wave of younger challengers.

That moment after the Athens final, when Djokovic tore open his shirt, transcended any words. It was not just a celebration of a three-set comeback victory, nor simply winning a title at his brother’s tournament, but the sum of two decades of suppressed emotions and release.

At that instant, we seemed to see him collapsing after winning his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open; saving two championship points in the legendary 2019 Wimbledon final; kneeling and shouting after defeating Nadal in the 2021 French Open semifinals; and tearfully winning the 2023 Australian Open while injured. All those moments crystallize in the torn shirt from Athens.

When asked if he would continue until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Djokovic’s response was honest and profound: “That’s not really my goal... I long to compete for many more years and eventually bid farewell on the Olympic stage holding the Serbian flag — that would be a perfect ending. But honestly, I don’t know if I can make it that far.”

This is the clarity of a wise man and the composure of a warrior. He has achieved everything a tennis player could dream of. What now drives him is no longer records or titles, but a pure love for tennis and a deep appreciation for every day he can still run on the court.

At the moment Djokovic won his 101st title, let us not speculate on whether he will surpass Federer’s 103 titles; at the end of his 2025 season, let us not imagine if he will claim a 25th Grand Slam. Instead, let us simply celebrate this 101st victory and sincerely look forward to his presence in the 2026 season.

The setting sun cast a golden glow over the Acropolis in Athens, outlining the figure of this veteran. Twenty years ago, he had just begun; twenty years later, he remains on the journey. The magic of tennis may lie in this seemingly impossible persistence. When everyone thought the legend was ending, he told us with a ripped shirt: the legend continues.

How fortunate we are to witness the greatest tennis player of this era still writing his own, and all of our, tennis epic. The great Novak Djokovic, see you in the 2026 season!(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)