Novak Djokovic, ranked eighth in the ATP and 39 years old, faced a defeat against Jannik Sinner, ranked first and 24 years old, in the Wimbledon semifinals, losing with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. While reaching a Wimbledon semifinal is an impressive achievement for many players, Djokovic expressed that he does not view it as such.
During the press conference following his match against Sinner, Djokovic remarked that while he continues to achieve commendable results, they do not satisfy his personal standards. “Last year I reached four semifinals, this year one final and one semifinal. For 99% of players, these are excellent Grand Slam results. For me, it’s good, but not good enough,” he explained.
Djokovic: “I Am Both Blessed and Cursed”
Djokovic elaborated, stating, “I am both blessed and cursed in the sense that the highest results are always expected of me. I struggle with myself; I remind myself that it’s great to still compete at this level against younger players, but I have the highest expectations for myself. It is an internal struggle.” He acknowledged that after two decades of high expectations, he must now approach the situation with a more modest outlook. “I still enjoy competition, although I no longer relish the grueling weeks leading up to major tournaments due to the physical pain…”
He expressed gratitude for his physical condition during the tournament, which has not always been the case for him in the past. Djokovic added, “I love this life; tennis has given me the chance to become who I am,” according to reports.
Prize Money Earned by Djokovic at Wimbledon
Despite the loss to Sinner, Djokovic still earned a significant sum at Wimbledon this year. He collected one million euros and gained 800 ATP points for his performance. In comparison, both Sinner and Zverev have earned 2,090,000 euros each so far, while the winner of their upcoming match is set to receive a total prize of approximately 4,180,000 euros.
Video Highlights of the Djokovic vs. Sinner Semifinal
