In a moment that marked a significant shift at Wimbledon, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic faced a decisive defeat in the semi-finals at the hands of Italy`s Jannik Sinner.
The straight-sets loss wasn`t just a match result; it felt like a powerful statement from the younger generation, with Sinner delivering a clinical performance that outplayed the seasoned veteran.
Emerging after the match, Djokovic addressed the inevitable questions about his future at the All England Club. Despite the disappointment, he offered a clear statement regarding his future at the tournament. He was quick to dismiss any notion that this semi-final marked his final appearance on Centre Court.
“I`m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today,” he asserted. “I`m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on Centre Court for sure.”
However, the Serbian champion was also candid about the physical realities he faced in the match and over the past year. He admitted feeling “compromised” and unable to move with his usual extraordinary agility against a sharp Sinner.
While reluctant to detail specific injuries, he acknowledged the increasing impact of age.
“It`s just age, the wear and tear of the body,” Djokovic reflected. “As much as I`m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year-and-a-half, like never before…”
He added, “It`s tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I`m fresh, when I`m fit, I can still play really good tennis… But yeah, I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically.”
This marks a noticeable shift for an athlete whose legendary career has been built, in large part, on unparalleled physical resilience and recovery. For years, Djokovic seemed almost immune to the toll elite tennis takes on the body. Now, even the most meticulously cared-for machine shows signs of mileage.
Djokovic also recognized the caliber of the opposition at the top. Facing younger, fitter opponents like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the crucial late stages of Grand Slams presents a different challenge.
“I reach the final stages, I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz,” he noted. “These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I`m going into the match with tank half-empty. It`s just not possible to win a match like that.”
He views Sinner and Alcaraz as “definitely several levels above everyone right now” and anticipated a compelling final between them, slightly favoring Alcaraz based on his Wimbledon history and current form.
Despite the physical setbacks, Djokovic defended his commitment to physical preparation.
“The amount of hours that I spend on a daily basis to take care of myself, I`d like to challenge everyone who is out there on the tour to see if anybody takes cares of themselves more than me,” he asserted.
He acknowledged that this dedication hasn`t yielded the same results recently but quickly balanced this by recognizing the years of success it did bring.
“I`ve been fit for so long and had an incredible career,” he concluded. “I`m just trying to make the maximum out of what I have left.”
Novak Djokovic`s run at Wimbledon 2025 ended sooner than he, and many spectators, might have expected. Yet, his immediate post-match comments weren`t about retirement; they were about rescheduling. The tennis world can expect to see the 38-year-old legend back on the grass courts of SW19, determined to challenge the new era at least one more time.
