Djokovic: "I am starting to be bothered by the obsession you have with the 25th Grand Slam title"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 11 Jul 2026 | 08.43

Novak Djokovic, devastated after falling to Sinner at Wimbledon. Photo: gettyimages

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Novak Djokovic usually appears more open and closer to Serbian media than to international ones, but in his latest press conference at Wimbledon 2026, he took it a step further. The Balkan player went as far as to complain about the pressure he feels from his country to win another Grand Slam title and explained what he experiences in body and mind during competition.

After the defeat against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of Wimbledon 2026, the Serbian wanted to make it clear that the external obsession to see him lift another Grand Slam trophy is starting to weigh on him. He even admitted that this pressure affects him more than he would like, acknowledging that his body is not the same as before, which frustrates him. Novak Djokovic, in his purest state.

This is what Novak Djokovic said in a press conference to Serbian media at Wimbledon 2026Djokovic, annoyed with those asking him for another Grand Slam title

"Winning another Grand Slam is not the ultimate and obligatory goal. It is crucial for you to know that many people pressure me, people who are close to me, and also the media. I understand that people truly want me to win that 25th Grand Slam, and I want it too, but that is not the ultimate goal.

Let's put things into perspective. It starts to bother me a bit because, in a way, I feel that I am not enough for myself, and then others impose an additional burden on me. As if 24 Grand Slams were not enough and only 25 would suffice; as if 100 titles were not sufficient and they had to be 110; as if 400 weeks as number one were inadequate and had to be 1,000.

Let's celebrate what we have already achieved and let's be a bit more humble, realistic, and grateful. It is a reminder I give to myself because I am tired of constantly talking about when the 25th will come. What if it never comes? What now? Does that mean my career was a failure?

It is always my priority to prepare myself as best as possible to perform at my peak in Grand Slams. I have had that mentality for over twenty years, and I believe that it is precisely thanks to that mentality that I achieved everything I did. I could probably have won five more Grand Slams in finals I ended up losing, and I could have lost five of the ones I ended up winning after incredible comebacks. That's sports, and that's life.

And how long I will continue doing this, honestly, I do not know. I also said it last year: I would like people to respect my decision and stop constantly asking me when I will retire, when I will win the 25th Grand Slam, or when this or that will happen. When the time comes, it will come. There are many more reasons to celebrate than to lament."

Novak admits that his body does not respond as he would like

Djokovic also delved into a reality that he increasingly faces: the enormous challenge of maintaining physical and mental consistency at 39, something he considers the greatest challenge of this stage of his career. "It's not just a mental issue.

If something does not work, if you have vomited that morning, feel dizzy, or notice that your body is not responding... people do not know, but that happens constantly. It's not just me; it happens to all players. People expect you to always be at one hundred percent, but that is impossible. All you can do is try to be as well prepared as possible for the circumstances ahead. But those circumstances, especially in the recent years for me, change constantly. Every day brings a new challenge.

That is probably what I find most difficult to accept. One day I play extraordinarily well in both training and matches, and the next day, I feel like I am not within my own body. It's as if I am a completely different person. I imagine that biologically, some things work that way, and there are many more physical and mental fluctuations.

In training, you seek those feelings, that rhythm, feeling the ball well. You know who you are going to play against and how you should approach the match. But if you do not have those feelings, tension appears, nerves appear, and you enter a cycle from which you try to escape during the match. Training is one thing, and competing is another, but precisely you train to find those sensations. If they do not appear, it obviously poses an additional burden".

Djokovic acknowledges maintaining a genuine intuition on the court

The Serbian acknowledged that the passion for tennis remains intact, although accepting the physical limitations that come with time is a daily battle. "The main motivation is still there. It comes from the love and passion I feel for this sport. That's why I still want to step out onto the court.

Then there is the competitive motivation because to compete at the highest level, you have to train for weeks, make sacrifices with your team, and give up many things to be prepared. I am not complaining. These are decisions I consciously make because I still enjoy being on the court".

But it's not like before. It is challenging for me to accept, after all I have achieved and all the experience I have, that my level has dropped so much. I know where the ball is going. Mentally, I am prepared for every situation, but my body slows down. I constantly feel like I am half a step behind the opponent. That drives me crazy. Of course, it drives me crazy because I still want to be the best and beat anyone in front of me. I try to move forward with optimism and represent my country in the best possible way. We'll see how far I can go".

Novak highlights Sinner's superiority but looks ahead

Finally, the seven-time Wimbledon champion acknowledged that reaching the semifinals is still a good result, although his level of demand remains as high as ever. "Well, it could have been worse. Losing 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4 is not that bad either (laughs). I knew that if I could take a set to a tiebreak, I could have chances. Perhaps he would have started to doubt a little too.

But the reality is that he was clearly superior and the best player of the match. Reaching Wimbledon's semifinals is a good result, but for me the best result will always be lifting the trophy. I also try to find a balance in my mind and convince myself that what I continue to do at this age is something special and deserves a lot of merit. It's essential to keep moving forward".

At 39 years old, Novak Djokovic continues to compete for the most significant titles on the circuit, but he also faces a stage marked by greater honesty with himself. The Serbian made it clear that he will not let the 25th Grand Slam define the legacy of an unparalleled career and accepted with naturalness that his body no longer responds as before, although the ambition remains intact. As long as he finds the motivation to train and compete at the highest level, the Balkan champion will continue to pursue new successes, albeit now with a much more serene perspective on all he has achieved.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic: "Empieza a molestarme la obsesión que tenéis con el 25º título de Grand Slam"

Novak Djokovic