Novak Djokovic Press Conference | 2025 US Open Semifinal

Reflecting on US Open Semifinal Loss

• 💔 Novak Djokovic discussed his loss in the 2025 US Open semifinals against Carlos Alcaraz, acknowledging that Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are currently playing at a "really high level."
• ⛽ He admitted to having "ran out of gas" after the second set, struggling to maintain his energy and rhythm against Alcaraz.
• 🏆 Djokovic noted that he has lost to these younger players in three out of four Grand Slam semifinals this year, highlighting their dominance.

Physical Challenges and Age

• ⏳ Djokovic attributed his physical struggles to time and age, stating that it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain the required level of physicality in best-of-five matches.
• cumulative He described the physical toll as accumulative throughout the tournament, rather than a sudden injury, which impacted his fitness level against Carlos.
• ⚠️ He emphasized that maintaining peak physical condition for extended periods is something he "unfortunately at this point in time my career can't control."

Acknowledging Opponent Improvement

• 📈 Djokovic recognized that younger players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are continuously improving, becoming "better and better each year."
• 🎯 He stated that it's expected for young athletes to improve, and he must adapt and make changes to compete with their evolving strategies and high performance.

Future Tournament Strategy

• 🎾 Djokovic believes he has a better chance in best-of-three matches compared to best-of-five Grand Slam formats, suggesting he might consider playing more of those tournaments.
• 🏛️ Despite the challenges, he affirmed his desire to continue playing Grand Slams, calling them the "pillars of our sport" and the most important tournaments.
• 🗓️ He mentioned plans to play the Athens tournament but indicated uncertainty about his full schedule leading up to the Australian Open.

Motivation and Continued Competition

• ❤️ Despite the losses, Djokovic expressed that he still enjoys the thrill of competition and the "amazing support" from the crowd, which motivates him to continue playing.
• 💪 He affirmed his commitment to keep fighting and trying to reach finals to compete for more trophies, even though it will be a "very difficult task."
• ✅ He accepted the losses, stating that if he has to lose, he's content losing to Alcaraz and Sinner because he acknowledges "they're just better at the moment."