Novak Djokovic admitted there is “always something wrong” less than a week after celebrating his 38th birthday. Father Time still hasn’t caught up with him, as he made a winning start at the French Open on Tuesday but the sixth seed is still feeling the effects of his ageing body.

While Djokovic isn’t ready to hang it up just yet, he also recently revealed that he also found himself thinking about the end of his own career after taking part in an emotional ceremony for Rafael Nadal, with his retired rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray also in attendance.

It’s been an unusual season for Djokovic, who has suffered early exits at big tournaments and twice gone on a three-match losing streak. But he thrives at the Grand Slams and he proved that on Tuesday, taking out Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3.

As he navigates this tricky period of his career, the 38-year-old has explained that he’s always dealing with something physically, even though he takes the best possible care of his body.

“Thankfully, I don't have any major injury now. There is always something happening, but on a kind of more minor level, daily level, that it's manageable,” the 24-time Major winner said.

“I mean, that's obviously as you grow older, get older, that's one of the things that you always have to pay extra attention to, I mean, in terms of prevention and keeping the body fit. Yeah, that's definitely more challenging nowadays than it was, you know, 15 years ago.

“So when you're younger, your body recovers faster. Yeah, so that's just something biological that you have to accept as the clock ticks. You just have to make some adjustments with your team in terms of how you train, how you prepare.

“I spent quite a bit of time in making sure that every step of the way in preparation and prevention is respected in order for me to still be able to play on this level. That's on a physical side.”

While he’s still motivated to chase records and keep writing his name in history, Djokovic also opened up on the doubts that can creep in.

He added: “On a mental side, of course, there are always challenges. There are always doubts. But there is also motivations and goals, you know, what inspires you, what's the purpose of you still competing. Of course, I have those questions.

“But thankfully I have several different motivations that keep me going. Of course history and making records and achieving great things in this sport is definitely one of them. So I don't hide that at all. You know, I don't mind vocalising that.

“Yeah, that's really what I feel and what I try to kind of carry into my weekly life on the court, which definitely doesn't become easier in terms of motivation. So you have to kind of dig deeper and be also surrounded with the right people.

“I have a good environment, is also key, because you're very repetitive. I try to mix things up and do different sports that keep me going, do different things, just keep my mind fresh.”

It’s a candid revelation from Djokovic, who had also started thinking about his own retirement after catching up with Nadal, Federer and Murray on Sunday.

After taking part in the special presentation ahead of the tournament, the Serb said: “Honestly I was thinking about my end of the road as well when we were watching Rafa having his speech, particularly those moments when we were in the back room, the three of us.

“And I was just, yeah, obviously talking to Federer and Murray about their good-byes and reminiscing and reflecting on the rivalries, and of course part of me is proud that I'm still there, that I'm still going, but at the same time, I was, and I still am a bit sad that they're all gone, because those guys were my greatest motivations of why I competed so intensely and for so long.

“But I didn't think about the exact date, if that's what you're looking for, or a moment!”