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Novak Djokovic, once the gold standard of baseline resilience and physical supremacy, is now confronting the one opponent even he can’t outlast time. The 38-year-old superstar suffered a straight-sets thrashing at the hands of Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday, July 11, signaling a seismic shift in the sport’s power balance.
Novak Djokovic: Still elite, but struggling to keep pace
Serbinator Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles to his name, was outplayed in every department by the 15-years-younger Italian. The 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 score line didn’t just reflect a tactical unraveling but exposed Djokovic’s diminishing rally resistance and reduced court coverage, signs that his legendary athleticism may finally be in retreat.
He also required mid-match treatment for a leg issue, further emphasizing the physical toll the modern game is extracting from its elder statesmen.
This performance continued a trend of decline for the former World No. 1, whose last Grand Slam victory came in 2023. Since then, his only notable title has been the Paris Olympics gold, a triumph achieved more on mental reserve than physical dominance.
‘I’m going into match with tank half empty’ After exiting Wimbledon 2025, Djokovic admitted that the age and the wear and tear of his body have restricted his tennis playing abilities.
It’s just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest, Djokovic stated.
These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I’m going into the match with a tank half empty. It’s just not possible to win a match like that. It’s one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it, Djokovic expressed further.
Despite suffering what many have called a “center court come-down,” Djokovic dismissed talk of retirement and confirmed he intends to return to Wimbledon Championship SW19 in 2026 for at least one more shot at glory.
Serbian Legend, however, clarified that he is not ready to hang up his boots and may return to the All England Club in 2026.
Hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court. I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today, So I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure, he said.
Right now I’m so fresh off the court, it’s hard to put things in a larger perspective and say what the plan is for the next few months or a year. I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams. Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most, Djokovic commented.
To his credit, Djokovic has still managed to reach the semi-finals of all three Grand Slam events this year, a testament to his enduring match IQ and mental grit. However, in an era dominated by high-octane shot velocity, relentless net pressure, and explosive movement, Djokovic’s serve slump and baseline fatigue have become harder to ignore.
As the sport edges closer to a generational switch, the Wimbledon final will now showcase its brightest new stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, whose aggressive styles and fearlessness reflect the modern evolution of elite tennis.
He also shared his take on the upcoming final between Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner.
I think the anticipation for this final is big. They’re definitely several levels above everyone right now, Djokovic added.
With his aura of invincibility slowly fading, Djokovic’s legacy remains untouched, On Sunday, July 13, you can witness the Finale of 2025 Wimbledon Championship between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
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