Novak Djokovic missed a golden opportunity at this year’s Wimbledon to finally win that coveted 25th Grand Slam title.
However, in the end, his exit in the semi-finals was through no fault of his own. He simply came up against an inspired Jannik Sinner, who gave the 39-year-old virtually nothing to work with.
His serve was supreme and his groundstrokes consistently deep and venomous. Novak Djokovic didn’t stand a chance, and the fact he only managed to forge one break point opportunity throughout the entire match speaks volumes for the gulf in quality between them.
It has now left many wondering whether the Serbian superstar will ever get a better chance to claim the record-breaking major, which feels like the last accolade he needs to depart the sport in peace.
Martina Navratilova has now offered her view.
Martina Navratilova rates Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam chances
Speaking to Tennis Channel, she and Jim Courier offered their analysis of yesterday’s straightforward Wimbledon semi-final.
Discussing the break point opportunities, of which Djokovic had just one to Sinner’s 13 (he converted three), Navratilova admitted: “Yeah, I mean, immaculate, and the break point he faced, ace. And he could have broken more. It could have been in two, two and two sets, so that was a really comprehensive beating that Djokovic did. He was just a tad slow, and that was enough.
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“Sinner, little one, 5-4, 15-40 to break point. Missed the overhead but comes right back and breaks and he never looked back.”
This prompted Courier to request more insight into the Sinner serve, to which Navratilova explained how Djokovic failed to trouble it throughout.
She added: “Yeah, you have to neutralise the serve and Novak couldn’t do it today, just a tad slow and again, the location, he was spreading the court so well, Sinner.
“Novak couldn’t neutralise the serve, and then a plus one, he’s [Sinner] deadly with that forehand.”
She concluded by discussing the all-important debate that will likely rage on until the next major: can Djokovic win a 25th Grand Slam title?
Novak Djokovic’s last five Grand Slam performances
- 2026 Wimbledon – defeated by Jannik Sinner in the semi-final
- 2026 French Open – defeated by Joao Fonseca in the third round
- 2026 Australian Open – defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the final
- 2025 US Open – defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final
- 2025 Wimbledon – defeated by Jannik Sinner in the semi-final
Navratilova has offered her advice: “Amazing, but three out of five [set matches] helped him get there, so he has a little cushion, but then it hurt him because then he was tired because he played the five-setter in his last match.
“And I think if he really wants to win one more, he’s got to play a few more matches, a few more tournaments. And I think it cost him because he just wasn’t matched up.”
Courier then added: “Yeah, look, he’s been so reliable for so long in these majors; the outlier isn’t him making the semi-finals at 39, it’s losing early to Joao Fonseca, who most of us think is going to win majors at some point in his career in Paris.
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“The guy, he can just show up and play this well, but to win a title like this, I think you probably need a few more miles in your body to be able to avoid, you know, kind of running out of something, whatever that special sauce is, or he’s had so many little injury issues, like he had last year going into this match, he got hurt on match point against Cobolli.
“So you need some luck, you need all that. But the guy’s got greatness oozing from him still at 39.”
Djokovic has insisted he plans to return to Wimbledon again next year, so there is some cause for optimism amid the disappointment of this defeat.
Has Novak Djokovic missed his best-ever chance to win another Grand Slam?
Following on from yesterday’s match, Pat Cash told Djokovic how he should retire from tennis.
However, given what he continues to achieve, it feels like the 39-year-old has no reason to depart the sport just yet.
Whilst his age means he is facing players who are ten to 15 years his junior, he routinely defeats them, but unsurprisingly stumbles against Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
To have made the final and semi-finals of two of the three majors this year is indicative of this undeniable talent which is keeping him so competitive despite everything that is against him.
That being said, his big chances at majors are dwindling.
This year, with Alcaraz having withdrawn from both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, a golden opportunity was there. Sadly, he was unable to take it.
It does feel unlikely that he will ever be able to defeat both in the same run given the physical toll beating just one of them would command, and for that reason, it feels like this was the best chance he will ever get.
