Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam Title Drought Continues After Wimbledon Semifinal Loss

When Novak Djokovic won his seventh men’s singles title astatine Wimbledon successful 2022 — nan 4th consecutive twelvemonth he’d won nan iconic grass-court tourney — it appeared only a matter of clip earlier he would triumph again and lucifer Roger Federer for nan astir titles successful nan iconic grass-court tournament's history.

Instead, for 3 consecutive years Djokovic, nan Serbian superstar who owns nan astir Grand Slam titles successful tennis history, has been denied that spot atop Wimbledon's all-time leaderboard arsenic his grip connected Grand Slam tournaments has loosened.

Following losses successful nan 2023 and 2024 men’s singles last astatine Wimbledon to Spaniard prima Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic connected Friday mislaid a semifinal to top-seeded Janik Sinner successful consecutive sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. It will people nan first clip since 2017 that nan men's last will not see Djokovic, who had played for nan Wimbledon title successful 10 of nan erstwhile 12 years.

It followed what Djokovic called a "nasty fall" he suffered during nan 4th group of his quarterfinal triumph Wednesday. Djokovic reportedly canceled a believe convention Thursday.

"I’m hoping nan adjacent 24-48 hours that nan severity of what was happening connected nan tribunal and what happened is not excessively bad, that I’ll beryllium capable to play astatine my champion and free of symptom successful 2 days," Djokovic said aft finishing retired his quarterfinal victory.

The nonaccomplishment successful Friday's semifinal to Sinner not only kept him short of Federer's people astatine Wimbledon, it besides extended his title drought crossed nan 4 astir prestigious tournaments successful tennis, nan Grand Slams. Since his past Slam triumph astatine nan 2023 U.S. Open, Djokovic has gone seven Slams without a triumph — his longest streak since 2016-18. If Djokovic does not triumph nan season-ending Slam, nan U.S. Open, he will person gone 2 almanac years without winning a Slam for nan first clip since 2009-10.

Sinner will look Alcaraz successful Sunday's men's singles final. Alcaraz will effort to triumph his 3rd consecutive Wimbledon final. It is besides a rematch of this year's French Open final, nan first clip since 2008 that nan men's French and Wimbledon finals person repeated. Their matchup represents a generational displacement successful nan sport. Federer won his first Slam successful 2003, pinch Rafael Nadal earning his first successful 2005, and Djokovic joining them successful 2008. Ever since, they had formed a "Big Three" that had dominated nan sport. Yet while Federer and Nadal person some retired, and Djokovic is 38, Alcaraz is conscionable 22 and Sinner 23.

Djokovic still owns a spot among elite institution successful Wimbledon history. His semifinal quality was his 14th, a grounds for nan tournament. He besides joins Federer, Pete Sampras and William Renshaw arsenic nan only men to triumph nan singles title 7 times. Renshaw dominated nan tournament’s 19th period era, earlier professionals were allowed to compete alongside amateurs, while Sampras collected his 7 successful an eight-year span, ending successful 2000.

Djokovic besides already owns nan astir Grand Slam tourney victories all-time, pinch 24, 2 much than Rafael Nadal and 4 much than Federer.

It is 1 of galore accolades that person been earned by Djokovic, including nan astir weeks spent classed arsenic nan world’s No. 1 player, nan oldest subordinate to clasp nan No. 1 ranking, and nan only subordinate to triumph each 4 Grand Slam events astatine slightest 3 times.

All, and galore much superlatives, beryllium to Djokovic. One of nan fewer eluding him is astatine Wimbledon. Still.