Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of an eighth Wimbledon crown came to an end in the semifinals, where he fell to Jannik Sinner in a match where he never truly appeared capable of winning. The Serbian star, who was hampered by a muscle issue picked up in the quarterfinals, put up more of a fight against Sinner at Roland Garros. This time, however, he seemed resigned to defeat and showed little resistance.
Despite making the semifinals at all three Grand Slams so far in 2025, the 38-year-old Djokovic knows that’s not enough for someone of his stature. He admitted in his post-match press conference that his physical form is no longer at the level it used to be, and against younger players like Sinner and Alcaraz, peak condition is crucial.
Still, Djokovic isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. He now plans to rest and focus on being ready for the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year. However, many believe his golden opportunity to add to his legacy may have slipped away, as the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz appears to mark the beginning of a new era.
On her podcast, Australian tennis great Rennae Stubbs weighed in with a bold forecast: “Most of us believed Wimbledon was Djokovic’s best shot at another Slam, but it didn’t happen. I think his next big target will be the 2026 Australian Open—a tournament that’s always meant a lot to him. Despite the tough time he had in Melbourne a few years ago, he’s won it ten times. I wouldn’t be surprised if next year’s Australian Open ends up being the final tournament of his career.”
Earlier this year, Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarterfinals but was forced to withdraw from the semifinal against Alexander Zverev due to injury.
