“Best of five has been a real struggle": Novak Djokovic explains aging struggles after falling to Sinner at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic addressed his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals, a match in which he was evidently hampered physically. The Serb admitted that five-set matches "has been a real struggle physically" and expressed his frustration at not being in his best form.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion fell for the third consecutive time this year in a Grand Slam semifinal, having retired due to physical problems while facing Alexander Zverev, and then falling at Roland Garros and Wimbledon to Sinner. The Italian had also eliminated him in the Australian Open 2024 semifinals, ending the Serb's streak of five consecutive finals (and nine in the previous 10 Grand Slams played).

The 38-year-old player had been showing good form in recent weeks, defeating opponents like Miomir Kecmanovic and Alex De Minaur (11th) along the way. He overcame Flavio Cobolli (22nd) in the quarterfinals, where he experienced foot discomfort after a fall, which seemed to resurface today.

"I don't think it’s bad fortune. It’s just age,” Djokovic mentioned in a press conference after the loss to Sinner. “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. I guess playing best of five particularly, this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes the worse the condition gets.”

The 24-time Grand Slam champion had reached all four Grand Slam finals in 2023 (winning three titles), and since then has reached one final (Wimbledon 2024, defeated by Alcaraz) and four semifinals.

“I reached the final stages, I reached semis of every Slam this year, but, you know, I have to play or Sinner or Alcaraz,” said the former No. 1 smiling. “These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I’m going into the match with the tank half empty. It’s not possible to win the match like that. It is what it is. It’s one of those things you have to accept and embrace in some way. Deal with reality the way it is and try to make the most out of it.”

Djokovic failed to defend the points gained from the 2024 final but remains at World No. 6, still with a good distance from his pursuers Lorenzo Musetti (No. 7) and Holger Rune (No. 8), both defeated in the first round of Wimbledon. Nole is currently listed to play the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, although these are not tournaments he usually participates in during recent years. In fact, in the last four seasons, the Serb only played the Cincinnati Open back in 2023 – winning the title in a memorable final against Carlos Alcaraz.