Novak Djokovic finally admits age is catching up as he makes honest retirement admission: 'Reality hits me right now'

Skills and fitness had been Novak Djokovic’s biggest strengths in his glittering career, which has seen him win 24 Grand Slam titles, but his growing age, it seems, has now become a burden. Djokovic knows that and finally admitted it for the first time after being soundly beaten by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon 2025 semi-finals on Friday.

The 38-year-old Djokovic was thrashed 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 by a 15-year-younger Sinner as the senior tennis player also required medical attention for a leg issue

The end result, however, was not surprising as Djokovic has been witnessing a steady decline. His last Grand Slam win came in 2023 and the only major victory in the last 18 months is the Paris Olympics gold medal.

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Djokovic: ‘I’m going into match with tank half empty’

After exiting Wimbledon 2025, Djokovic admitted that the age and the wear and tear of his body have restricted his tennis playing abilities.

“It’s just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I’m taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest,” Djokovic said.

“These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I’m going into the match with a tank half empty. It’s just not possible to win a match like that. It’s one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it.”

Djokovic speaks on tennis retirement

Djokovic, however, clarified that he is not ready to hang up his boots and may return to the All England Club in 2026.

“Hopefully it’s not my last match on the Centre Court. I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today,” Djokovic said. “So I’m planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure.

“Right now I’m so fresh off the court, it’s hard to put things in a larger perspective and say what the plan is for the next few months or a year. I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams. Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most.”

To his credit, Djokovic has reached the semi-finals of every Grand Slam event this year.

He also shared his take on the upcoming final between Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner. “I think the anticipation for this final is big. They’re definitely several levels above everyone right now,” Djokovic added.