Despite his semifinal defeat at Wimbledon 2025 against Jannik Sinner, Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic made it clear that retirement is not yet on his mind. At 38 years old, the seven-time champion at the All England Club confirmed he doesn't want this to be his last match on the iconic Centre Court and hopes to return in 2026.

"I hope to return": Djokovic not saying goodbye to Wimbledon

After ending his remarkable streak of six consecutive Wimbledon finals, Djokovic stated his intentions: “I would be sad if this were my last match on Centre Court, but I don’t plan it that way. I hope to be back next year,” said the Serb during a press conference following his loss to Sinner, who beat him convincingly in straight sets.

Affected by an injury sustained in the quarterfinals, Djokovic admitted he couldn’t perform at his best. While he avoided going into detail about his physical condition, he acknowledged that “I couldn’t move as well as I would’ve liked” and gave full credit to his opponent: “Sinner deserved the win.”

Praise for Sinner and Alcaraz ahead of the final

Despite the loss, Djokovic didn’t hesitate to weigh in on the upcoming final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In his view, the Spaniard has a slight edge: “Carlos is the favorite because of the two titles he has and the confidence he’s playing with.” He also highlighted Sinner’s current form: “Sinner is hitting the ball very well. It’s going to be a very even final, just like in Paris.”

The Serbian also reflected on the physical demands of competing at the highest level at his age. “They’re younger, fresher, and currently ahead of the rest. I arrive at matches with my tank half empty,” he admitted, acknowledging the growing difficulty of staying competitive against the new generation.

Djokovic’s future remains uncertain

Djokovic didn’t rule out adjusting his schedule or training approach. “I have to talk to my team and analyze what to do. I don’t know what I could change, because I’ve put in many hours of hard work without much reward lately, although I’ve been rewarded many times throughout my career.”

While questions loom over his present, one thing is certain: Novak Djokovic has not said his final goodbye to Wimbledon. Despite the setbacks, his goal remains to compete for Grand Slam titles, where he believes he can still deliver his best tennis.