LONDON (AP) — After his recent defeat against Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals, Novak Djokovic wanted to make one thing abundantly clear: this isn’t the end. The legendary player plans to return to the iconic All England Club.
“I have no intention of wrapping up my Wimbledon journey today,” the 38-year-old Djokovic stated confidently. “I’m absolutely planning to return for at least one more shot at glory.”
His defeat, with scores of 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 at Centre Court against the top-seeded Sinner, halted Djokovic’s quest to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and aim for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam victory.
Djokovic revealed he was not at his optimal performance level, having sustained what he described as a “painful” and “unfortunate” fall during the final game of his quarterfinal match just two days prior.
“I won’t get into the specifics of my injury and just lament about not playing my best,” Djokovic commented post-match. “I do feel a sense of disappointment in not moving the way I had hoped.”
A trainer was called to attend to his upper left leg before the third set, allowing him to win the next three games, nearly taking a commanding 4-0 lead, but ultimately he faltered, losing six out of the last seven games.
“We all saw that he was struggling physically, especially in the third set,” remarked Sinner, who is set to face No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final this Sunday. “He found himself in a tough situation.”
Leading up to this tournament, Djokovic had expressed that Wimbledon represented his best chance of securing another major title, especially after his last victory in the 2023 U.S. Open.
In his performances at the subsequent Grand Slam events, Djokovic faced challenges as well. He lost to Sinner in the 2024 Australian Open, withdrew from the French Open before the quarterfinals due to a torn meniscus, and fell to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, marking his second consecutive defeat to him.
This season has been tough for Djokovic, exiting in the semifinals of all three major tournaments. He withdrew from Melbourne due to a torn hamstring after one set, lost to Sinner at Roland-Garros, and suffered another defeat just recently.
As his unexpected Wimbledon exit came to a close, Djokovic gathered his belongings and, while heading towards the locker room, took a moment to acknowledge a standing ovation from the crowd, offering a smile, a wave, and a thumbs-up.
A journalist later inquired if Djokovic perceived his run of injuries as a streak of bad luck.
“I wouldn’t label it bad luck. It’s simply the reality of age — the toll on my body. Despite my diligent care, the last year and a half has hit me harder than ever,” Djokovic confessed, shaking his head. “It’s challenging to accept that, as I believe when I’m fully fit, I can still deliver high-quality tennis. I’ve demonstrated that throughout this year.”
