Watching Novak Djokovic play for nearly two decades, I still can’t figure out how he does it again and again. Anyone who has played tennis at any level will understand that what Djokovic is achieving is truly extraordinary.

To go head-to-head with someone like Carlos Alcaraz—16 years younger and immensely talented—while battling a leg injury and still coming out on top is mind-blowing.

Sometimes, the scorecard doesn’t capture the true essence of the tennis we witness. Yesterday’s australian open quarter finals four sets were pure class.

Djokovic’s injured left leg meant he had to change his game. Long rallies weren’t an option. But sometimes, having fewer options makes things clearer. With limited mobility, he focused on going for his shots, using his forehand as a weapon. His deep forehands pushed Alcaraz back, and the game opened up in the second set. Despite the pain, he hung in there, won the set, and became more mobile as the medicine kicked in for the third and fourth.

For me, Djokovic represents the last link to the era of tennis I grew up loving. From Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, and Stefan Edberg, to Sampras, Agassi, Federer, Nadal, and now Djokovic. While today’s players like Alcaraz and Sinner are brilliant, the raw emotions of watching my generation’s legends might end with Djokovic.

I don’t know how many more years he has left, but what he’s doing at this stage of his career is an inspiration to keep pushing, no matter the odds.