Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic has disclosed that a part of him had “left” after Rafael Nadal followed his other great rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray in announcing his retirement.

At 38, Djokovic continues to chase history, advancing to the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets win over American teenager Learner Tien, as he eyes a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Speaking on the Jay Shetty Podcast, Djokovic reflected on the changing landscape of men’s tennis.

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“When Federer, Nadal, and Murray — my greatest rivals — retired in the last couple of years, I felt like a part of me left with them,” he admitted.

“I thought it would be easy to shift my focus to new competitors, but it hasn’t been. I’ve seen the same faces across the net for nearly two decades, and now they’re gone.

“Of course, it’s the natural evolution of the sport, and new generations are coming in to take over, but it’s still something I’ve never experienced before. I’m just trying to embrace this journey.”