The disappointment over missing the Wimbledon final runs deep. Nevertheless, Novak Djokovic speaks of a return to Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic packed up his things, applauded the crowd on Center Court at Church Road, and disappeared into the catacombs. What looked like a permanent farewell to some observers is said to be merely a temporary one.
When asked if he would return to the grass-court classic, the Serbian record-holding Grand Slam champion replied: “I’d like to, at least one more time. We’ll see.” However, his decisive 4-6, 4-6, 4-6 loss in the semifinals to Jannik Sinner had clearly taken its toll.
“That was a pretty bad loss,” said Djokovic (38) with a weary smile. “Of course I’m disappointed. Of course I wanted to win Wimbledon. That’s why I still give it my all. But I simply lost to a better player. I have to accept that. It’s hard, of course.” He isn’t angry with himself: “I don’t think I did too many things wrong. I was just one or two levels below him.”
“Internal Struggle” Between Satisfaction and Expectations
Sinner dominated especially on his own serve, not allowing Djokovic a single break. After just 2 hours and 20 minutes, he converted his first match point to secure the victory. Djokovic no longer considers himself the best returner. “It was me—that’s the reality.”
In any case, the Serb was pensive. His performance at Wimbledon was “good, but not good enough, because I’m both blessed and cursed to be accustomed to the highest level of results and success,” he said, describing an “internal struggle” between the satisfaction of being able to keep up with the younger players and his own high standards. He still enjoys the “thrill of competition.”
At least his physical condition is giving him cause for optimism. “For me, that’s one of the most important things, one of the highlights,” Djokovic said. “That wasn’t always the case. I’ve had an injury at virtually every major tournament over the past two years. So that’s a good thing.”
