Novak Djokovic’s (current) singular vision is to defend his Olympic singles title at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. The 38-year-old tennis champion, who beat Carlos Alcaraz in Paris last year to secure the Gold, also has 24 Grand Slam titles, 40 ATP Masters 1000 trophies, and seven year-end championships to his name. By the time the Los Angeles Olympics kicks off, the Serbian athlete will be 41 — the same age as Roger Federer when he announced his retirement from the sport. However, Djokovic believes he’ll be as active then as he has been for over the past two decades. This is due to a daily fitness routine that he swears by, which along with rigorous training and exercise, and a strict diet, also makes space for leisure activities like saunas and ice-baths, as well as mindfulness and meditation. In a recent conversation with digital creator and podcaster Ben Johnson, he explained this regime in detail. Novak Djokovic’s daily fitness routine: 6 steps to stay in top shape like the 38-year-old tennis champion 1. Gratitude and meditation “The very moment I wake up is always a prayer. It’s always an expression of gratitude first of all, to be alive, to have another chance to live that day”, Djokovic tells Johnson. Starting each day with intention and gratitude helps ground the 24-Grand Slam champion, and sets the tone for the day as one of endless possibilities. 2. Hydration After completing his morning meditation, which he never misses, Djokovic drinks a cup of lukewarm water, lemon and salt. “I would take my hydration formula to replenish all the electrocyte and minerals and get myself going,” he adds. This is due to the fact that while warm water helps to gently stimulate the digestive system, lemon provides his body with the necessary vitamin C and antioxidants. Additionally, the salt helps replenish electrolytes and may aid in toxin removal. 3. Smoothies and blends The next step of Djokovic’s routine includes consuming fruits, especially as smoothies and juices, to fuel up on vitamin or multivitamin inside. His favourite smoothie involves mixed berries and dates. “I love dates, I can have dates all day,” he says, while adding that he would probably include hemp seeds and superfoods such as maca powder to the smoothie. “Even blue spirulina, which does not taste great – it’s disgusting but disguised in the smoothie,” he says. Dates, which are rich in fibre, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and copper, are also a good source of natural sugars, providing a quick and sustained energy boost that athletes like Djokovic require exponentially. Hemp seeds, which are full of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are crucial for heart health and overall well-being, mix well with maca powder, which is a nutrient-rich supplement. 4. Avoiding caffeine The Serbian athlete steers clear of coffee due to the fact that caffeine can cause increased heart rate, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. However, he doesn’t mind sampling green tea occasionally. 5. Staying active Following his early morning routine which includes meditation, hydration and ingesting nutritious smoothies, Djokovic heads out to train for his sport. “...And then I would have to go practice tennis. In case I don’t have to practice tennis or have an obligation to train, I still want to be active and still want to be outdoors, ideally for my wellness,” he says. Aside from tennis, he also likes to stay active by swimming in the sea, biking, hiking, running, and jogging. “I like to play other sports like football and basketball, padel or ping pong”, he adds. 6. Winding down At 38, Djokovic has also realised the importance of rest and balance. “Once I’m done with the active part of the day, when comes the chilling part. I would possibly take a sauna or an ice bath before unwinding for the day,” he says. While saunas offer a range of health benefits like improved pain relief, relaxation, and detoxification, ice-baths help in reducing muscle soreness and inflammation.