Djokovic Acknowledges the Difficulty of Competing with Alcaraz and Sinner in Grand Slams
After his defeat in the US Open semi-finals against Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic admitted that overcoming Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Grand Slam tournaments will be a significant challenge in the future. The Serbian tennis player, who is seeking his 25th Grand Slam title, has struggled against these two players, currently the world’s number one and two.
Djokovic, 38 years old, fell to Sinner and Alcaraz in three major tournaments this season. Although he defeated Alcaraz at the Australian Open, he was forced to retire in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev due to a leg injury. Since then, he has suffered consecutive semifinal defeats against Sinner at Roland Garros 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 in five sets. I think I have more chances in three-set tournaments, but in five sets it’s tough,” Djokovic declared.
Novak Djokovic
Since Djokovic won his last Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated, winning the last seven major titles. Both players could face each other in the US Open final, repeating a possible title match for the third consecutive time in a Grand Slam.Novak Djokovic on the challenge of competing against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner: “They are very good, playing at a very high level”.Djokovic, despite reaching the semifinals in all four Grand Slams this season, has failed to reach a final for the first time since 2017. The Serbian tennis player admitted that, although he is “happy” with his level of play, he recognizes the difference in his physical condition and stamina compared to his younger rivals.
“They are very good, playing at a very high level. Unfortunately, I ran out of energy after the second set. I think I had the energy to fight and keep up with him for two sets. After that, I ran out of steam and he kept going. That’s what I felt this year with Jannik as well. Yes, five-set matches make it very, very difficult for me to play against them, especially in the final stages of a Grand Slam,” Djokovic explained.
Djokovic has hinted that he is nearing the end of his legendary career, but has indicated that he plans to play next season on the circuit. On Friday, he reiterated his desire to play a “full Grand Slam season next year.” Although he prioritized the major tournaments this year, he will reconsider that strategy in 2026, as he believes he could be more competitive in other events.
“I like my chances more in three-set tournaments, I guess, week-long tournaments or Masters tournaments, where you have almost two weeks with quite a few days between matches. That could serve me better in the matches against them,” he added.
Djokovic, currently number 7 in the world, will rise to number 4 in the ranking next week. He occupies third place in the race to the year-end finals, but is not sure of his schedule for the rest of the season. He plans to participate in a 250-level tournament in Athens in early November, but has not confirmed his participation in other ATP events.
Djokovic will consult with his team about the next steps for 2025 and beyond. He stated that he still enjoys playing and is grateful for the continued support of the fans, who backed him during much of the match against Alcaraz, chanting “No-vak, No-vak” and standing up after long exchanges.
“I still enjoy the excitement of competition. Today I received incredible support from the fans on the court. Very grateful for that. I had a lot of fun. That’s one of the most important reasons why I keep going. The affection I have received around the world has been incredible in recent years,” concluded Djokovic.
