“I Might Play as a Cyborg One Day”: Djokovic’s Wild Conversation With Elon Musk Sends Fans Into Frenzy.NN
In a surprising crossover of sports and cutting-edge technology, tennis legend Novak Djokovic has opened up about his fascination with Elon Musk’s ambitious projects, particularly the humanoid robot Optimus from Tesla. During a recent podcast appearance, the 24-time Grand Slam champion delved into the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and its potential to revolutionize not just the game of tennis, but the very essence of human athleticism. Djokovic, ever the forward-thinker, even mused about the day when cyborg enhancements could level the playing field—or perhaps redefine it entirely.
Djokovic, who has long been vocal about innovation in sports, praised Musk as a visionary whose work transcends industries. “Elon is pushing boundaries that most of us can only dream about,” Djokovic said, his eyes lighting up as he spoke from a training session in Monte Carlo. “Optimus isn’t just a robot; it’s a glimpse into a future where machines learn, adapt, and maybe even outplay us on the court. Imagine a doubles partner that never tires, never misses a serve. It’s thrilling and a bit terrifying.”
The conversation turned to AI’s role in tennis, where Djokovic has already embraced data analytics and biomechanical tools to fine-tune his already superhuman game. But Musk’s Optimus, Tesla’s general-purpose humanoid robot unveiled in recent years, takes it to another level. Designed for tasks ranging from household chores to factory work, Optimus has demonstrated remarkable dexterity—pouring drinks, folding shirts, and even performing yoga poses. Djokovic couldn’t resist drawing parallels to tennis. “Those precise movements? That’s baseline defense right there,” he joked. “If Optimus learns to swing a racket, we might see the first robot Grand Slam champion. And honestly, I’d love to play against it—test if heart and instinct can still beat silicon.”
But Djokovic’s musings went deeper, touching on the ethical and existential implications of cyborg integration in sports. With advancements in neural interfaces like Neuralink—another Musk venture—the Serb pondered a world where athletes augment their bodies with tech. “As a cyborg? Why not?” he said with a grin. “I’ve pushed my body to the limit for decades. If a chip could help recover from injuries faster or predict an opponent’s shot milliseconds earlier, I’d consider it. But it has to be fair—everyone gets the upgrade, or no one does. Otherwise, it’s not tennis; it’s something else.”
Musk himself has teased the idea of robots in sports, once tweeting about AI dominating chess and suggesting similar fates for physical games. Djokovic, a fan of Musk’s bold predictions, sees Optimus as more than a gimmick. “It’s about evolution,” he explained. “Tennis has evolved from wooden rackets to carbon fiber. Why not from human to human-plus-AI? Elon gets that. He’s not building robots to replace us; he’s building them to elevate us.”
As the Australian Open approaches, Djokovic remains focused on his human form, training rigorously for what could be another record-breaking year. Yet, this chat reveals a mind as agile off the court as on it—one that’s already serving aces in the realm of futuristic possibilities. Whether Optimus ever steps onto the clay or cyborg Djokovic becomes reality, one thing is clear: the king of tennis is ready to volley with the future.
