Djokovic eyes Slams but fading body raises doubts

Djokovic ‘Not Giving Up on Slams’ – But Can His Body Keep Up?

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title continues to hang in the balance after the 38-year-old Serbian star suffered a straight-sets defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 US Open semi-finals.

Despite scaling back his schedule and appearing only at tennis’ biggest events, Djokovic admitted that his physical limits are becoming harder to ignore.

“I’m not giving up on Grand Slams… but best-of-five matches against Alcaraz and Sinner are very difficult now,” Djokovic said following his exit at Flushing Meadows.

Only the Grand Slams Matter Now

Djokovic has tailored his career around the four majors, playing only 11 events in 2025. His last three tournaments were the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open — each ending in a semi-final defeat, often to younger rivals Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“Slams are Slams — they’re just different. The pillars of our sport,” he emphasized.

Still, he acknowledged the brutal toll the format is taking on his body:

“I ran out of gas. The level of fitness wasn’t enough for Carlos.”

Alcaraz & Sinner: The New Order

Djokovic was aiming to become the oldest Grand Slam men’s finalist since Australia’s Ken Rosewall in 1974

Djokovic has been passed by a new generation of ATP stars, with Alcaraz and Sinner now holding 7 of the last 7 Grand Slam titles between them.

• Alcaraz overpowered Djokovic in the US Open semis.

• Sinner has now defeated Djokovic in long matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The Serbian legend was gracious in praise:

“I told him he looks 25 physically,” Alcaraz said. “To maintain that level at 38 — it’s impressive.”

Mental Strength Still Present, But Physical Decline Is Obvious

While Djokovic remains No. 3 in the world and has defeated top-5 players like Zverev and Fritz this season, his physical limitations have become increasingly apparent.

• Against Alcaraz, Djokovic was visibly winded after long rallies.

• In past Slams, he admitted struggling to recover between rounds.

Even his quarter-final win at the Australian Open over Alcaraz came at a cost — he couldn’t finish the semi-final against Zverev.

What’s Next for Djokovic?

Uncertain. Djokovic will likely appear at his family-run ATP 250 in Athens, but beyond that?

“There’s a question mark about the rest of the season,” he said, sidestepping questions about the 2026 Australian Open.

With Melbourne Park being his most successful venue (10 titles), the Australian Open may still offer the best chance for Djokovic to pull ahead of Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record.

But as Father Time catches up, even the best player in men’s tennis history may need to accept that his reign at the top is finally under threat.