Age may be just a number, but it was hard to miss during Novak Djokovic’s 2025 US Open semifinal defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in New York on Saturday. The 38-year-old Serbian star looked far from the dominant force he once was, struggling to match the intensity of the 22-year-old Spaniard, who outplayed him in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2.
For Alcaraz, it was a sweet moment of redemption, as he avenged his losses to Djokovic earlier in the season at the 2024 Australian Open and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Djokovic’s age and fitness struggles have been a recurring theme this year, forcing him to acknowledge the possibility of retirement multiple times. Significantly, the US Open marked his fourth straight semifinal exit at a Grand Slam in 2025.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, speaking to Sky Sports, did not mince words while assessing Djokovic’s performance, admitting that the decline must feel deeply frustrating for him.
“It stinks. I went through it. The effort is the same, you feel the same. I didn’t feel that much slower, but you play the right point and you miss it, when you could have made it with your eyes closed 10 years ago. It’s frustrating,” she said.
Also read:
Navratilova added that Djokovic can no longer pull it off alone against top-level players. “He needs help from someone now to win because to beat Alcaraz and Sinner, that’s too much,” she remarked.
In his post-match comments, Djokovic admitted the challenge of competing with the younger generation at the Slams. “It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance best of three, but best of five, it’s tough,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The victory moved Alcaraz to 4-5 in his head-to-head rivalry with Djokovic, further cementing his status as the sport’s rising powerhouse.
-
-
-
-
