In a recent statement following his defeat in the US Open semi-finals, Novak Djokovic admitted the difficulty of facing Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Grand Slam tournaments.
Djokovic Acknowledges Alcaraz and Sinner’s Superiority
Djokovic, who was seeking his 25th Grand Slam title, has been surpassed by Sinner and Alcaraz, the two best players in the world currently, in three major tournaments of the season. Although he managed to beat Alcaraz at the Australian Open, an injury prevented him from advancing further in that tournament. Since then, he has suffered defeats against Sinner at the French Open and Wimbledon, and now against Alcaraz at the US Open. It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the obstacle of Sinner and Alcaraz in the Grand Slams. I think I have more chances in best-of-three-set matches, but best-of-five is tough. Since Djokovic won his last Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated, accumulating seven major titles between them. The US Open final is shaping up to be a clash between these two players for the third consecutive time in a Grand Slam.
Despite these difficulties, Djokovic has expressed his desire to continue competing, planning to participate in the next full Grand Slam season. He will consider adjusting his strategy for 2026, possibly focusing on one-week tournaments and the Masters, where he believes he could be more competitive. Djokovic, currently ranked number 7, will rise to number 4 next week. Although he is in third place in the ranking for the season finals, he has not yet defined his schedule for the rest of the season. He plans to participate in a 250-level tournament in Athens in November, but has not confirmed his participation in other ATP events. Djokovic stated that he will consult with his team about the next steps for 2025 and beyond. In addition, he expressed his gratitude for the continuous support of the fans and his enjoyment of the competition.They are too good, playing at a really high level. Unfortunately, I ran out of gas after the second set. I think I had enough energy to fight him and keep up with him for two sets. After that, I ran out of steam and he kept going.
Novak Djokovic
