"Playing 5-set matches against Alcaraz and Sinner is very difficult for me, I have to accept it," Djokovic discusses his Grand Slam chances

Clément Gehl

le 02/10/2025 à 14h07

2 min to read

Alcaraz Djokovic Shanghai Sinner

Novak Djokovic is still chasing a potential 25th Grand Slam title. But currently, the path is blocked by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who have split the recent Grand Slam tournaments.

The Serbian discussed his chances against the two current world's best players in a press conference: "Physical condition is logically the most important factor in a best-of-three sets match, rather than in a best-of-five sets match.

But everything is connected, obviously, with the mental aspect and the game. If you're not 100% physically against these guys, you feel like you're half a step behind, and that affects the entire match.

It affects the whole game, the rallies and different aspects of the encounter. That's what I said after the US Open, because I really felt that playing a best-of-five sets match against these players in the later stages of the tournament was very difficult for me.

I feel like I'm not as fresh as them in the semifinals. And that's okay. I mean, it's just a biological fact that I have to eventually accept. I continue to work as hard as possible under these circumstances to challenge these guys or especially challenge myself, and really see what I can do in every tournament I participate in.

Of course, in best-of-three sets matches, the tournament duration, ideally seven days, but most Masters events are played over nearly two weeks. That's where I think I have better chances of winning a trophy or achieving a significant result.

Apart from the matches I lost against the two best players in the world, I think I played very well in Grand Slams and reached the semifinals every time.

That says a lot about the level and consistency, and I'm of course happy about that. But at the same time, there's a part of me that's always winning, that wants to be the best. I've been fortunate to experience the greatest moments in this sport during my 20-year career.

It's true that it's not ideal, I suppose, when you play big matches and lose against the best players in the world currently. But that doesn't discourage me from continuing.

I don't play tennis only to get results and win trophies, there are several other reasons that push me to continue.

One of them is obviously to feel the love and support from around the world and to still hope to contribute, by participating in big events, to the growth of tennis as a sport.

That's what motivates me. It also gives me goosebumps every time I walk onto the court and people cheer and encourage me, it's a wonderful feeling."

Djokovic will make his debut in Shanghai against Marin Cilic.