Djokovic ‘not giving up on Slams’ – but can body keep up?

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

Novak Djokovic is starting to become the type of person who only appears on big events.

The 38-year-old isn’t interested in filling up his tennis diary because the process is getting older.

Over the past three months, there haven’t been many engagements. Only three Grand Slam galas, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, merited attendance.

Djokovic is unsure of his future plans now that his most recent attempt to win a 25th major title is over after losing in the semi-finals in New York.

The Serb stated, “I still want to play Grand Slams and have a full Grand Slam season next year.”

Let’s see if that will occur or not. Slams are just like other tournaments; they are not, however.

In recent years, Djokovic has significantly reduced his playing time, adjusting his schedule to emphasize the majors.

The biggest goal he has is still having is to avoid Australia’s Margaret Court when it comes to Grand Slam titles.

However, his body isn’t adhering.

Djokovic may have defied logic this year to reach the semi-finals of all four majors, but Carlos Alcaraz, 22, lost in a straight sets match at Flushing Meadows, a sign of his waning physical prowess.

Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, both 24, have won seven major titles in a row on the ATP Tour, far exceeding their opponents’.

According to Djokovic, “I can only do what I can do.”

“It will be very challenging for me to do it in the future when I compete against Sinner and Alcaraz in best-of-fives at Grand Slams.

“Best-of-three, but best-of-five, it’s tough,” I think.

Djokovic must be a part of any discussion about tennis’ greatest players.

He developed physical problems early in his career, but he quickly overcame them and rose to the top of the game with his speed, strength, stamina, and flexibility.

Many people have called Djokovic’s on-court contortions “super-human.” He is not, though. It is obvious that Father Time is catching up with him like everyone else is.

The effort put forth by Alcaraz to earn points was too much, especially in a tight second set that you believed he needed to win to have any chance of turning things around.

I had no fuel. Carlos wasn’t able to handle the level of fitness, Djokovic admitted.

At 4-4, Djokovic had a 27-shot lead before bending over his towel box. He winced and gasped for air before bending.

He was able to hold the serve and end the second set in a tie-break with a second wind. But he was unable to recover once he lost that.

Despite suffering from injury, Djokovic bravely defeated Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January.

However, due to the pressure, he was unable to advance to the semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

At the French Open and Wimbledon, he advanced to the last four, but Sinner failed to break down.

Alcaraz remarked, “It’s impressive what he’s done this year in the Slams and challenging us the way he’s doing.”

Djokovic is still the third-best men’s player in the world despite his advancing years and shorter schedule.

His skill against Alcaraz was reflected in the first set’s vintage backhand winner, as well as the ball-striking as he fought off the longest rally of the match in the second.

In the French Open and US Open quarter-finals, Zverev, the world’s third seed, and Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed from Germany, were defeated by this level.

In the end, Djokovic struggles to maintain his best form against Alcaraz and Sinner. Despite playing 11 tournaments this year, his Grand Slam performances have led to his elimination spots in the ATP Tour race, trailing only Alcaraz and Sinner.

He claims there is a “question mark” regarding the events he will participate in for the rest of the season in addition to an ATP 250 event in Athens, a tournament that his family and his relocation from Belgrade own.

In the wake of his defeat at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic did not want to think about the future, and he did not want to think about it as far as the Australian Open would go in less than four months.

Djokovic frequently refers to Rod Laver Arena as his second home, where he has won a total of 10 men’s titles there.