Reality Is I’m Getting Too Old To Win Grand Slams Admits Beaten Djokovic

Novak Djokovic said he must judge nan reality that his ageing assemblage continues to make it highly difficult for him to triumph different expansive slam title aft struggling physically successful his emphatic conclusion by nan world No 1 Jannik Sinner successful nan semi-finals of Wimbledon connected Friday.

A period aft suffering a straight sets conclusion by Sinner successful nan semi-finals of nan French Open, Djokovic was subjected to an moreover much one-sided 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 conclusion by an imperious Sinner. The 38-year-old moved sluggishly passim and he took a aesculapian timeout aft losing nan 2nd set.

“I don’t deliberation it’s bad fortune,” said Djokovic. “It’s conscionable age, nan deterioration and tear of nan body. As overmuch arsenic I’m taking attraction of it, nan reality hits maine correct now, past twelvemonth and a half, for illustration ne'er before, to beryllium honest.

“It’s reliable for maine to judge that because I consciousness for illustration erstwhile I’m fresh, erstwhile I’m fit, I tin still play really bully tennis. I’ve proven that this year. But playing champion of five, peculiarly this year, has been a existent struggle for maine physically. The longer nan tourney goes, nan worse nan information gets. I reached nan semis of each slam this year, but I person to play Sinner aliases [Carlos] Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp. I consciousness for illustration I’m going into nan lucifer pinch nan vessel half empty. It’s conscionable not imaginable to triumph a lucifer for illustration that.

“It is what it is, you know? It’s 1 of these things I judge and clasp successful immoderate way, woody pinch nan reality nan measurement it is, and effort to make nan astir retired of it, I guess.”

Novak Djokovic, who suffered a nasty autumn successful his quarter-final win, took a aesculapian timeout aft losing nan 2nd group against Jannik Sinner. Photograph: Fred Mullane/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Despite his struggles, Djokovic said he did not judge this would beryllium his last quality astatine Wimbledon and he intends to return adjacent year. “Hopefully it’s not my past lucifer connected nan Centre Court,” he said. “I’m not readying to decorativeness my Wimbledon profession today. So I’m readying to travel backmost decidedly astatine slightest 1 much time, play connected nan Centre Court for sure.”

For Sinner, nan triumph intends that he has now reached nan last of nan past 4 expansive slam tournaments. After his achy five-set defeat by Alcaraz successful nan French Open final, Sinner has responded highly good and he will person a chance to dress up for that conclusion successful nan last connected Sunday aft Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz, nan 5th seed, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

By reaching nan final, Sinner and Alcaraz person ensured that they person divided nan past 7 expansive slam titles betwixt them. The spread betwixt them and nan remainder of nan section continues to grow.