Novak Djokovic has urged the tennis world to “leave him alone” and stop asking when he will end his career. Aged 38, Djokovic has achieved virtually everything in the sport but still enjoys battling it out on the tour and reached the semi-finals of all four Majors this year.

Although the Serbian superstar has himself thought about retirement “more than a few times”, he’s also followed the example of one of his old rivals and wants to hang his racket up on his own terms.

Djokovic is still enjoying firsts at this stage in his career, making his debut at the new Hellenic Championship in Athens on Tuesday. The ATP 250 event is typically held in Djokovic’s hometown of Belgrade, Serbia, and his brother, Djordje, is the tournament director.

But it was moved to Greece this year and Djokovic committed to the tournament, beating Alejandro Tabilo in his opening match on Tuesday.

The world No. 5 isn’t the only veteran in the draw in Athens, as 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka received a main draw wildcard and advanced to the second round

The three-time Major winner has also been probed about retirement in recent years, and Djokovic took a page out of Wawrinka’s book as he asked for the questions to stop.

“It has crossed my mind, more than a few times, for sure. But I refuse to discuss it. I want to enjoy moments like today on the court. I believe I have earned the right to play as much and whenever I want,” Djokovic told SDNA after his opening mtch in Greecen.

“Stan Wawrinka also often receives the same question, and I completely agree with him when he says, ‘Leave me alone. Let me play, enjoy myself’. I understand people’s curiosity about ‘when’, but for me there is no such countdown in my mind.”

Although Djokovic himself has considered retirement, he still wants to continue his career on his own terms.

The Olympic champion added: “Of course, the thought has crossed my mind, but in the end I decided to play on my own terms, when I want to play and not when others think I should play. That’s all.”

For now, Djokovic is focused on his Hellenic Championship campaign. The world No. 5 faces Nuno Borges in the quarter-finals, and he was delighted to get revenge over Tabilo on Tuesday after the Chiliean won their last two matches.

“I’m very happy that I won tonight and against a player that I had not beaten before, we had played twice and he had won both,” he told the crowd.

“That’s why I was quite nervous before the match, maybe more than usual. I got a lot of energy from the people for that and I want to thank you.”