Novak Djokovic Vows to Return to Wimbledon Despite Painful Semifinal Exit

Novak Djokovic may have walked off Centre Court to a standing ovation and a touch of emotion after his straight-sets loss to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals, but he’s not ready to call time on his career at the All England Club just yet.

Less than an hour after the 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 defeat, Djokovic made it clear he doesn’t see this being the end of his Wimbledon journey. “Hopefully it’s not my last match on Centre Court,” he said. “I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on Centre Court, for sure.” 

At 38, Djokovic's future has been the subject of plenty of speculation, especially after he dropped a hint about possible retirement following his French Open semifinal loss to Sinner last month. He’d said then that it might have been “the last match ever I played here.” That comment stirred interest, and Friday’s press conference was packed with media — so much so that Carlos Alcaraz, who had to speak during Djokovic’s original slot, looked around and said, “Wow,” at the sight of the full room. 

Djokovic acknowledged that age and the demands of five-set tennis are starting to take a toll. “Playing best of five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically,” he admitted. “The longer the tournament goes, the worse the condition gets. I reached the semis of every Slam this year. I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz — 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 like that.” 

Despite the physical challenges, Djokovic hasn’t shut the door on continuing his career at the top. He plans to consult with his family and team soon to figure out how best to structure the rest of his season — and where he wants to peak. One thing he’s already confirmed: he intends to play the US Open, which kicks off on August 24 in New York.

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, matched Margaret Court’s long-standing record for the most major singles titles at last year’s US Open. That capped off a sensational 2023, where he won three Slams and finished the year as world No. 1. But since then, things haven’t quite clicked. While he did win Olympic gold in Paris — the one big title that had eluded him — he's managed just one ATP title otherwise and hasn’t added to his Slam tally. Meanwhile, Alcaraz and Sinner have taken over the reins, combining to win the last six majors. 

Even Djokovic agrees: “They’re definitely several levels above everyone right now.” But don’t count him out just yet. The Serb’s fight isn’t over — and he’s not done with Wimbledon.  

Also Read: Sinner Sets Stage for Wimbledon Showdown with Alcaraz After Dominating Djokovic