Djokovic: Alcaraz and Sinner Too Tough in Slams, But I’m Not Giving Up

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, September 5, 2025
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport

NEW YORK—Grand Slam tennis is about vision and revision.

Novak Djokovic gave himself a reality-check after bowing to world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in today’s US Open semifinals.

The Grand Slam king said he’s not giving up his major dream of capturing a 25th Slam crown, but concedes world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz are simply too tough for him to beat in the best-of-five Grand Slam format.

“I’m happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it’s just the physicality of it, you know. As I said after the quarterfinals, the press conference when I spoke to you guys, I said, you know, I’m going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as it’s needed, but it wasn’t enough,” Djokovic said after his 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 defeat to Alcaraz. “That’s something I, unfortunately at this point in time in my career, can’t control.

“I can do only as much as I can do. Yeah, it will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance best-of-three, but best-of-five, it’s tough.”

Despite the imposing obstacles Sinner and Alcaraz pose, Djokovic said he’s not abandoning his Grand Slam quest.

“I’m not giving up on Grand Slams in that regard, having said that. I’m going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy at least,” Djokovic said. “But, you
know, it’s going to be a very difficult task.”

The 38-year-old Serbian superstar defeated Alcaraz in the best-of-three-set Olympic gold-medal match to capture the gold. Djokovic said he plans to play Athens but “other than that, it’s really still a question mark where I’m going to go and what I’m going to do.”

One reason the four-time US Open champion continues to push himself is passion: Djokovic said both his love of competition and the love he received from fans in Ashe Stadium today fuel his competitive fire.

“Yeah, I still enjoy the thrill of competition. Today I received amazing support again on the court from the crowd,” Djokovic said. “Very thankful for that. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Yeah, that’s one of the biggest reasons why I keep on going. The love that I’ve been getting around the world has been amazing
the last couple of years.”