Novak Djokovic faces unsure Grand Slam future after arising brief once more at 2025 US Open

Novak Djokovic chased down a deep nook smash from Carlos Alcaraz and laced a backhand down the road early in Friday’s US Open semifinals, a signature shot that introduced the gang to its toes.

Djokovic’s 92 MPH sliding two-handed wasn’t even adequate to win the sport because the Serbian misplaced in straight units 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 throughout a masterful effort from one of many recreation’s rising superstars in Alcaraz.

At 38 years previous, Djokovic ran out of fuel early within the third set, after shedding a second-set tiebreaker and failing to seek out momentum in opposition to the No. 2 seed who hasn’t misplaced a set all through the event. Djokovic hinted at retirement earlier this yr after shedding to Jannik Sinner within the French Open and his phrases following his newest grand slam exit in New York mirrored these remarks.

“I am pleased with my degree of tennis, however , it is simply the physicality of it,” Djokovic mentioned Friday. “As I mentioned after the quarterfinals, I mentioned I will do my perfect to get my physique in form to maintain that degree and grind for as many hours as wanted, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. That is one thing sadly at this level of my profession I am unable to management. I can do solely as a lot as I can do.” 

Djokovic leaped forward 3-0 within the second set and acknowledged power from followers inside Arthur Ashe Stadium after an early break earlier than Alcaraz took his recreation to a degree solely seen from his counterpart at his peak.

Alcaraz acquired to each drop-shot try, hit a sequence of cross-court winners and left Djokovic gasping for power with a variety of saves and deep returns that prolonged factors. That is what occurs in opposition to a 22-year-old who’s arguably the quickest participant on tour and infrequently tires.

“Yeah, it will likely be very troublesome for me sooner or later to beat the hurdle of Sinner or Alcaraz in a best-of-5 in a grand slam. I feel I’ve a greater likelihood best-of-3, however best-of-5 is hard. I am not giving up on grand slams in that regard, having mentioned that, I will proceed combating and attempt to get to the finals and struggle for a one other trophy at the least. However, , it’ll be a really troublesome job.”

Djokovic is 5-3 in opposition to Alcaraz in his profession together with a win within the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open, however has struggled in opposition to Sinner, shedding the final 5 matchups after profitable 4 of his first 5 in opposition to him.

Since Djokovic’s final main win …

Since Djokovic’s final main title in 2023 on the US Open, Alcaraz or Sinner have received the final seven majors. That numbers strikes to eight if the top-seeded participant within the event beats Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime on Friday evening as a heavy favourite.

“(That is) to not say I will skip grand slams. I nonetheless need to play grand slams, a full grand slam season subsequent yr,” Djokovic mentioned. “Let’s examine if that is going to occur or not. They’re the pillars of our sport and an important tournaments we’ve. I do fancy my likelihood a bit extra best-of-3, I assume one-week tournaments or, I assume, masters tournaments the place you will have fairly a number of days between matches. That would serve me higher within the matchups (with) them.”

Djokovic has been the third-best participant in most grand slams throughout this stretch of victories from Sinner and Alcaraz, however as he identified after Friday’s loss, he is now not in his prime relative to age and the marathons of potential five-setters in opposition to these two is an uphill climb.