Novak Djokovic has stated his desire to return to Wimbledon for at least one more appearance after falling to defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals on Friday. The 39-year-old Serbian, who was bidding for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, was outplayed by Sinner in a straight-sets defeat, 6-4 6-4 6-4, in just under two and a half hours.
Djokovic's performance and reaction
Djokovic, who last won a Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open, admitted he was not at his best. 'It was a good old blowout,' he joked. 'Nothing much I could do. I was just half a step late basically in any shot, so… It’s very simple as that. He was just a level or more better than I was.' He added, 'I was just not sharp enough, not reactive enough, not balanced enough to play him. That’s it. There’s not much I could do on the court.'
Future Wimbledon plans
When asked about returning next year at age 40, Djokovic said, 'I would like to, at least one more time. Let’s see.' The Serbian star has reached the latter stages of Grand Slams regularly but has not won a major in nearly three years. Despite this, he remains committed to competing at the All England Club again.
Sinner's dominant display
Sinner, who had not looked at his best earlier in the tournament, raised his level significantly to overcome Djokovic. The Italian defending champion broke Djokovic's serve multiple times and maintained control throughout the match. Djokovic acknowledged Sinner's superiority, saying he was 'a level or more better' on the day.
Djokovic's defeat extends his Grand Slam title drought, but the Serbian remains a formidable competitor. His comments suggest that while he is uncertain about his long-term future, he is determined to grace Wimbledon's grass courts at least once more before retiring.
