LONDON — Novak Djokovic walked off Centre Court on Friday with a loss but not a broken spirit, after world number one Jannik Sinner thoroughly outplayed the Serbian legend in a one-sided Wimbledon semifinal, dashing Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion received a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd after the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat, leaving many spectators wondering if they had witnessed his final match at the iconic grass-court tournament. But Djokovic quickly put those concerns to rest.
When reporters asked whether he planned to return to Wimbledon as a 40-year-old for the tournament’s 150th edition next year, a composed Djokovic replied, “I would like to, at least one more time. Let’s see.”
Djokovic openly acknowledged the lopsided nature of the match, calling it “a good old blowout,” but he was quick to highlight the positives from his overall run at this year’s tournament. He had battled past Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the longest match of the tournament earlier in the week — a result he said proved he still belongs at the top of the sport.
“Of course, I’m disappointed. I wanted to win Wimbledon. That’s the reason why I’m still pushing myself so hard,” said Djokovic, who claimed his 24th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open in 2023.
“I’m proud of what I achieved three nights ago. Felix is number three, fourth player in the world. Proven to myself and others that I can still play at the highest level, and I have,” he added.
“I reached the last four of Wimbledon. Losing in straight sets against the best player in the world, okay. It is what it is. But the tournament was positive in terms of the attitude on the court, the fighting spirit, the dedication. I mean, it’s still there.”
It’s worth noting that even Sinner, the world’s top-ranked player, lost to Djokovic earlier this year in the Australian Open semifinals, underscoring that the veteran Serb remains a formidable opponent despite his age.
With Wimbledon now behind him, Djokovic is setting his sights on the U.S. Open, the year’s final Grand Slam event.
“A little bitter taste stays as I wasn’t at the desired level today. But we turn the next page and we move on,” he said.
“I don’t have any pressure or no one is forcing me to play. I do it because I really want to and because I still can. I still can play as a top-10, top-5 player. Let’s see what the future brings.”
