Novak Djokovic, the legendary Serbian tennis player, recently acknowledged the challenges posed by his ageing body as he aims for another Grand Slam title. In a recent match during the semi-finals of Wimbledon on Friday, Djokovic faced a tough defeat against the world No. 1, Jannik Sinner, which highlighted the physical struggles he is currently experiencing. This defeat followed a previous encounter where Sinner had also bested Djokovic in straight sets during the French Open semi-finals just a month prior.
During the Wimbledon semi-finals, Djokovic was outplayed decisively, suffering a score of 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. The 38-year-old seemed to struggle with his movement throughout the match and even took a medical timeout after losing the second set. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic stated, “I don’t think it’s bad fortune. It’s just age, the wear and tear of the body.” He further elaborated, “As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.”
Despite his dedication to fitness, Djokovic admitted that he finds it increasingly difficult to compete at his previous level. “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. I’ve proven that this year. But playing best of five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically,” he explained. Djokovic noted that as tournaments progress, his physical condition tends to deteriorate, making it challenging to compete against younger players like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who are both known for their fitness and sharp skills.
“I feel like I’m going into the match with the tank half empty. It’s just not possible to win a match like that,” he admitted. However, Djokovic remains optimistic about his future in tennis. He expressed a firm belief that this would not be his last appearance at Wimbledon. “Hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court,” he said, emphasizing his intention to return next year. “I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. So I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure.”
For Jannik Sinner, this victory at Wimbledon marks a significant milestone as he has now reached the final of the last four Grand Slam tournaments. After enduring a painful five-set defeat to Alcaraz in the French Open final, Sinner has rebounded remarkably and will have the opportunity to seek redemption in the final on Sunday. He secured his spot in the final after defeating Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed, with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
With Sinner and Alcaraz continuing to dominate the tennis scene, they have effectively split the last seven Grand Slam titles between them. This growing gap between these two young stars and the rest of the competition signifies a new era in men’s tennis, with both players showcasing their exceptional talents and resilience on the court.
