Novak Djokovic’s exceptional Wimbledon 2026 campaign was halted in the semifinal yet again by Jannik Sinner on Friday. The Serb gave his best effort but couldn’t keep pace with the World No. 1 in the straight-sets defeat.
Djokovic, who defied all odds at 39 to reach the final four, was acknowledged for his highly competitive run, which featured a five-hour, 15-minute win over third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, but he didn’t see eye to eye with a reporter after a question over his competitiveness was brought up.
Novak Djokovic Opens Up About His Level After Wimbledon Defeat to Jannik Sinner
After an early exit at the French Open, Djokovic skipped traditional grass-court warm-up events and went straight to Wimbledon in pursuit of a record-equaling eighth title at the All England Club and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles crown. The tournament marked just his fifth appearance of the season.
Like last year, Djokovic has largely centered his schedule around the Grand Slam tournaments. The approach yielded another strong run, as he reached the Australian Open final earlier this season, defeating Sinner en route. With the win, he snapped Sinner’s five-match winning streak against him.
He, however, could not replicate his Melbourne success in London, as the defending champion delivered a near-flawless performance. Sinner denied Djokovic the only break-point opportunity he earned throughout the match before sealing a commanding 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
During his post-match press conference, Djokovic called the contest a ‘good old blowout,’ noting that he couldn’t have done anything to improve his chances against the in-form opponent.
A reporter also asked him about his competitiveness. “This year you seem to be more competitive in a way than last year, apart from today, where maybe you were tired.”
“Wrong,” Djokovic interjected.
“So what are your feelings about it? Do you feel that you really can go on and on or not?” the reporter continued.
“I just said you’re wrong,” the Serb firmly reiterated. “I don’t agree with your opinion.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion insisted that he always gives his all on the court and that his desire to win remains as strong as ever but acknowledged that he was simply outplayed by the better opponent.
“I am always competitive. I always give my best under the circumstances. Sometimes it looks from outside more, sometimes less. But only I know what I go through internally and what it takes to be able to still play at this level. Of course, I’m disappointed. Of course, I wanted to win Wimbledon. That’s the reason why I’m still pushing myself so hard. I just lost to a better player. I have to accept it,” he said.
“Obviously, a tough one. Once you’re off the court, it’s a tough one to accept. But it is what it is. I’m not upset with myself. I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong. I was just a level or two worse than he is,” he continued.
Although Novak Djokovic has not won a Grand Slam since the 2023 US Open, he has remained a consistent contender. Since then, he has reached two Major finals — Wimbledon 2024 and the Australian Open 2026 — and an impressive six semifinals, underlining his lasting competitiveness despite the rise of a new generation of stars.
