On Friday, Novak Djokovic‘s aspirations for an eighth Wimbledon title came to a halt with a straight-sets defeat to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The 38-year-old Serbian has continually battled age and wear-and-tear, and following his loss on Centre Court-63, 63, 64-he faced questions about whether his career was nearing its end.
Djokovic himself addressed the speculation head-on.
Coming off a potentially seasonending tumble in his quarterfinal match against Flavio Cobolli, Djokovic admitted the fall adversely affected his physical condition.
But he refused to dwell on it. “It was a nasty fall,” he reflected on the injury, adding: “Obviously, [my] body is not the same today like it was before, so I guess the real impact or effect of what happened I will feel tomorrow.”
Despite acknowledging the physical setback, Djokovic downplayed any notion of it being the primary reason for his loss.
He noted the overarching impact of ageing. “It’s just age. The wear and tear of the body. As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, the last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.
It’s tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I’m fresh and fit, I can still play very good tennis. I’ve proven that this year,” he stated.
Throughout 2025, Djokovic has reached the semifinals at all three Grand Slams, yet continues to fall short of claiming a title.
Earlier in the Australian Open, he was forced to retire due to a hamstring injury, and at Roland Garros, he succumbed again to Sinner.
The French Open exit was emotional; he implied it might have been his final match at Roland Garros, though he declined to confirm retirement.
Assessing his future and pushing ahead
Even as retirement rumors swirl, Djokovic emphatically stated he intends to return to Wimbledon.
“Hopefully it’s not my last match on Centre Court. I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time,” he declared.
He elaborated during the press conference: “I would be sad, but hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court... So I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure.”
Djokovic‘s persistence in the face of physical adversity signals that, while he recognizes his body is changing, he isn’t ready to close this chapter.
He intends to confer with his team and family about his 2025 schedule, aiming to peak at key tournaments, including the upcoming US Open.
Reflecting beyond his own match, Djokovic acknowledged the meteoric rise of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I’m going into the match with the tank half empty,” he explained.
This observation draws attention to a generational transition in men’s tennis, where years of success are passing into younger hands.
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