London: Novak Djokovic has confirmed he intends to return to Wimbledon Championships next year, keeping alive his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title despite his latest semi-final exit.
Djokovic determined to come back
The seven-time Wimbledon champion, who will be 40 when the tournament begins next year, made it clear that retirement is not yet on his mind.
“I would like to, at least one more time,” Djokovic said when asked about returning to the All England Club.
His latest campaign ended in the semi-finals with a straight-sets defeat to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who outplayed the Serbian 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court.
Still competing at the highest level
Despite the defeat, Djokovic took pride in his performance during the tournament, particularly his gruelling quarter-final victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime — the longest quarter-final match in Wimbledon history.
“I’m proud of what I achieved three nights ago,” Djokovic said. “I’ve proven to myself and others that I can still play at the highest level.”
The Serb emphasized that reaching the semi-finals remains a strong result by most standards, even if it falls short of his own lofty expectations.
Chasing history and battling expectations
Djokovic is still tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles and is aiming to surpass that mark to become the most successful player in tennis history.
However, recent years have seen several near-misses. He has not won a major since the 2023 US Open and has fallen short in multiple Grand Slam events, including defeats in key matches against rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz.
“For 99 percent of the players, a semi-final is a great result,” Djokovic admitted. “For me, it’s good—but not good enough.”
He described an ongoing “internal battle” to balance his high expectations with the realities of a long and decorated career spanning over two decades.
Focus shifts to US Open
With Wimbledon behind him, Djokovic will now turn his attention to the upcoming hard-court season, including the US Open, where he is a four-time champion.
The Serbian star will be aiming to end his title drought and continue his quest for a historic 25th Grand Slam crown.
Conclusion
While time may be catching up, Djokovic’s determination remains unwavering. His intent to return to Wimbledon highlights both his enduring passion and his belief that he can still compete with the very best.
As the tennis world evolves with a new generation of stars, Djokovic’s pursuit of history is far from over — and fans may yet see him grace Centre Court again next year.