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11 Jul 2026 | 08.43
Novak Djokovic tends to be more open and closer to Serbian media than to the international ones, but in his latest press conference at Wimbledon 2026, he went a step further. The Balkan player even complained about the pressure he feels from his country to add another Grand Slam title and explained what he feels in body and mind when competing.
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 a new Grand Slam title is starting to weigh on him. He even admitted that this pressure ends up affecting him more than he would like, besides acknowledging that his body is not what it used to be, causing him frustration. Novak Djokovic, in his purest state.
This is what Novak Djokovic said in a press conference to Serbian media at Wimbledon 2026Djokovic, upset with those who demand another Grand Slam title
"Winning another Grand Slam is not the ultimate and compulsory goal. It is very important for you to know that many people pressure me, people who are in my inner circle, and also the media. I understand that people really 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 it had to be only 25; as if 100 titles were not sufficient and they had to be 110; as if 400 weeks as number one were not enough and they had to be 1,000.
Let's celebrate what we have already achieved and let's be a bit more modest, more realistic, and more grateful. It is a reminder that I give to myself because I am tired of constantly talking about when the 25th will arrive. And if it never arrives? What now? Does that mean my career has been a failure?
My priority is always to prepare myself as best as possible to perform at my best in the Grand Slams. I have had that mentality for over twenty years, and I believe that precisely because of it, I achieved everything I did. I could have probably won five more Grand Slams in finals that I ended up losing, and I also could have lost five of those I ended up winning after incredible comebacks. That's sports, that's life.
And how long I will continue doing this, honestly, I do not know. I said it last year too: 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 acknowledges that his body does not respond as he would like
Djokovic also delved into a reality that he increasingly experiences: the enormous difficulty of maintaining physical and mental consistency at 39 years old, something he considers the biggest challenge of this stage of his career. "It's not just a mental issue.
If something doesn't work, if you've vomited that morning, feel dizzy, or sense that your body does not respond... people don't know, but that happens constantly. It's not just me; it happens to all players. People expect you to always be at 100%, but that's impossible. All you can do is try to be as well-prepared as possible for the circumstances ahead. But these circumstances, especially in 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 in both practice and matches, and the next, I feel like I'm not inside my own body. It's as if I were a completely different person. I imagine that biologically, some things work that way, and many more physical and mental fluctuations appear.
In practice, you look for those sensations, that rhythm, feeling the ball well. You know who you're going to play against and how you should approach the match. But if you don't have those feelings, tension appears, nerves arise, and you get into a circle that you try to break out of during the match. Training is one thing, competing is another, but you train precisely to find those sensations. If they don't appear, obviously, it means an additional burden."
Djokovic admits to keeping a genuine intuition on the court
The Serbian acknowledged that the passion for tennis remains intact, although accepting the physical limitations that come with aging 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 onto the court.
Then there's 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 ready. I'm not complaining. These are decisions I consciously make because I still enjoy being on the court."
But it's not like before. It's hard for me to accept, after all I've 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'm 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 remains a good result, although his level of demand continues to be as high as ever. "Well, it could have been worse. Losing 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4 isn't that bad either (laughs). I knew that if I managed to 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 in the match. Reaching the Wimbledon 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 keep doing at this age is something special and very commendable. We must keep moving forward."
At 39 years old, Novak Djokovic continues to compete for the most important 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 irreplaceable career and naturally accepted that his body no longer responds as it used to, although the ambition remains intact. As long as he keeps finding 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.
Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Djokovic: "Empieza a molestarme la obsesión que tenéis con el 25º título de Grand Slam"
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