Novak Djokovic faced a straight-sets defeat against world number one Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles semi-final at Wimbledon on Friday.
However, Djokovic has put retirement speculation to rest, expressing his desire to return to Wimbledon at least once more.
Djokovic stated that he will continue to pursue his 25th Grand Slam title. The seven-time champion’s dream of competing in his 39th Grand Slam singles final was thwarted by Sinner, who won the match 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Throughout the match, Sinner displayed exceptional skill, leaving Djokovic with no opportunity for a comeback. As Djokovic exited Centre Court, the audience stood and applauded him. Immediately after, speculation arose that he may have played his last match at Wimbledon.
However, Djokovic dismissed these rumors. He said, “I want to play at Wimbledon at least once more. What happens next will be determined by time.” The 39-year-old Serbian acknowledged that the loss was disappointing but did not diminish his spirit. He emphasized that his goal remains to win Wimbledon, which motivates his continuous hard work. “I am definitely disappointed because I wanted to win this tournament. That’s why I keep striving to improve myself,” he added.
Djokovic also reflected on the positive aspects of his performance in the tournament, particularly highlighting his victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals. He noted that this match demonstrated his ability to still compete against the world’s best players. “I take pride in my performance. I showed myself and others that I can still play at the highest level,” he stated.
He acknowledged that he did not perform at his best in the semi-final, crediting Sinner for his outstanding play and deserving victory. According to Djokovic, while he feels the sting of defeat, his attitude, effort, and dedication throughout the tournament remained positive. “I didn’t play at the level I wanted today. I will regret that a bit, but now it’s time to move on,” he said.
Djokovic’s last major title came at the US Open last year. He now sets his sights on this year’s US Open, where he aims to secure a record 25th Grand Slam title. Achieving this milestone would place him ahead of Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam titles won.
He also mentioned that he does not feel pressured while playing. He clarified that he competes because he still loves tennis and believes he can compete with top players. “There’s no pressure on me to play. I play because I want to. I believe I can still play tennis at the level of the top-10 and top-5 players today,” he concluded.