That Might Be It for Novak Djokovic

The walls are closing in on the 24-time Grand Slam champion

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At Centre Court on Friday evening, Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to reach the Wimbledon final. This was the same case last year, even the scores are strangely similar. However, this time feels different. One has to wonder if this was Djokovic’s last real chance for grand slam №25.

The Serbian, who just turned 39, isn’t getting any younger. If he had somehow toppled Sinner as he did earlier at the Australian Open, he would have been facing Alexander Zverev.

Despite being fresh off his maiden slam win at Roland Garros, the German isn’t known for his exploits on grass. Before this season, Zverev hadn’t managed to get past the fourth round. Djokovic, being a seven-time champion, would’ve had the slight advantage in the match-up.

Notably, the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. After all, it was Djokovic’s finals loss to Alcaraz three years ago that was the beginning of the end of Djokovic’s slam dominance. Even with the stunning upset to Alcaraz, Djokovic still had a fantastic season, wrapping up the other three slams in straight sets in the finals.

Coming into the Australian Open in 2024, Djokovic was the favourite to win his record-extending 11th title in Melbourne. However, waiting in the semi-finals was Sinner, who soundly defeated Djokovic in four sets on the way to his maiden grand slam.

At Roland Garros, a knee injury forced Djokovic to withdraw after reaching the quarter-finals. Despite this, a month later, he would find himself in the Wimbledon finals once again against Alcaraz, but Djokovic’s knees had taken a toll by then, and he lost in three sets.

In New York, Djokovic's fortunes weren’t getting better, suffering a defeat to, at the time, 28th-ranked Alexei Popyrin in the third round. It was not a good performance from Djokovic, conceding 14 double faults, which was discussed during post-game interviews.

“I have played some of the worst tennis I have ever played honestly, serving by far the worst ever.”

It was the first year since 2017 that Djokovic would not have a Grand Slam to his name. However, he did achieve something he had always wanted to do, winning a gold medal at the Olympics. Djokovic beat Nadal en route and eventually defeated Alcaraz in the final. The emotions he displayed after capturing the gold showed how much it meant to him.

Photo via YouTube.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m still in shock, honestly. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold at age 37. I finally did it.”

There’s a real chance that Djokovic's early exit at the US Open might be due to how hard he pushed himself at Paris.

The injury bug continued to haunt Djokovic as the Australian Open came around in 2025. He reached the semi-finals, facing Zverev, but had to retire after the first set. Djokovic made the semis at the other slams, too. However, he had no answer for either Sinner or Alcaraz, as one of the two sent Djokovic home.

The Australian Open has been Djokovic’s most successful slam, winning it ten times. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Djokovic’s best results come here, even in recent times.

The last time Djokovic beat Alcaraz at a slam was at the 2025 Australian Open. In 2026, with a bit of luck finally going his way, Djokovic found enough energy to beat Sinner in the semis even after going down a set. Alcaraz earned a win back from the previous year, but the 25th slam was still in reach.

Djokovic received a golden opportunity a few months later when it was time for the French Open. Alcaraz, having won the tournament in the two previous years, was ruled out due to injury.

Sinner faced a shocking second-round exit against Cerundolo. Suddenly, the field looked open, but in the way was the young Joao Fonseca in the third round. Even after losing the first two sets, the Brazilian was relentless, eventually clawing his way back to win in five sets.

Based on all this, it’s easy to think that it might be genuinely over Djokovic. But this is still Novak Djokovic we’re talking about. After his last slam win at the US Open in 2023, he has made the semis or better in every Grand Slam since, except on three occasions.

Just a couple of days before his match against Sinner, Djokovic survived a five-hour war against the third-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic doesn’t need a miracle. He just needs a couple of things to go his way.

Improbable? Sure.

Impossible? Absolutely not.

Thanks for reading my story.