Novak Djokovic fires back in his Wimbledon press conference. (Image: Wimbledon)
A feisty Novak Djokovic shut down a reporter at his press conference just minutes after losing in the Wimbledon semi-finals. The seven-time champion was defeated 6-4 6-4 6-4 by Jannik Sinner, the defending champion who also thumped him by a similar scoreline a year ago.
The 39-year-old was somewhat upbeat about the match, admitting he was beaten “by a better player” and talked up his chances of returning to Wimbledon after he turns 40. However, he did take issue with one line of questioning in particular, telling a journalist twice that he was “wrong” in his assessment.
Having described the contest as a “blowout” Djokovic was told that he appeared more competitive compared to last year, having reached the final of the Australian Open in January, compared to four semi-finals in 2025.
Djokovic immediately shouted back “wrong!”
The reporter continued to ask: “Today maybe you were tired. What are your feelings about it? Do you feel that really you can go on and on or not?”
Djokovic doubled down and responded: “I just said you’re wrong. I don’t agree with your opinion. I’m always competitive. Always give my best. Under the circumstances sometimes it looks, from the outside, more, sometimes less. Only I know what I go through internally and what it takes to be able to still play at this level.
“Of course, I’m disappointed. Of course, I wanted to win Wimbledon. That’s the reason why I’m still pushing myself so hard. But I just lost to a better player. I have to accept it. Obviously tough one. Once you get out of the court, it’s tough one to kind of accept. But it is what it is.
“I’m not upset with myself. I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong. I was just a level or two worse than he is. I mean, he was playing so solid from all ends. I mean, serve, very difficult to read his serve, incredible weapon has become last couple years since he changed his technique. Of course, he’s as solid as anyone really from back of the court. That’s it.”
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Novak Djokovic gave a big wave as he left Wimbledon Centre Court. (Image: Getty)
He went on to compare his recent results, which included an early exit at the French Open to Joao Fonseca, to the glittering career he has already recorded.
Having already addressed his desire to return to the competition and not retire, Djokovic said: “Last year I reached four semi-finals. This year, out of three slams, I reached one final and one semi-final. I guess for 99 per cent of the players, that would be a very good Grand Slam result.
“For me, it’s good but not good enough, because I’m blessed and cursed to be used to something of a highest degree in terms of results and achievements.
“In some way, I’m also dealing with myself in a sense that I’m telling myself, ‘Look, this is amazing that you’re still able to, as people around me are telling me, able to play at such a high level and push the youngsters to the limit for Grand Slam titles’, which is true. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself.
“It’s kind of that internal battle of what I’ve been through for the 20-plus years of my career, what the goals were always, the expectations, and trying to balance it out and really be a little more humble in that sense.
“Of course, I still enjoy the thrill of competition. Maybe I don’t enjoy all the hard weeks that are leading up to big tournament, putting myself over and over again through a lot of pain, physically mostly.
“I’m glad that this tournament, the body held pretty well. Pretty much every other tournament in the last two years it was always something.
“That’s the main thing. I feel when I’m healthy, I’m still able to play as a top-five player, still able to compete at the highest level. I like it. I like this life. I mean, tennis has given me everything in my life and has allowed me an opportunity to become who I am.
“At the same time, you know, of course there’s always a question how far you want to go, what you want to play, how you want to play.
“I go through that process, but I try to take it, in a sense, a day at a time, see how I really feel. I don’t have any pressure or no one is forcing me to play. I do it because I really want to and because I still can. I still can play as a top-10, top-five player.
“Let’s see what’s future brings.”