Novak Djokovic came heartbreakingly close to his 25th Grand Slam title again, but Jannik Sinner stopped him in the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open.
It’s getting pretty tough to watch at this point. The 38-year-old keeps getting so close to that elusive 25th major, but he just can’t get over the line.
This time, Sinner beat him in straight sets to reach his first Wimbledon final.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
Both Players Were Hurting
Here’s the thing that made this match even more complicated – both guys were dealing with injuries. Sinner hurt his elbow during his fourth-round win over Grigor Dimitrov.
Djokovic? He tweaked his hip at the worst possible moment.
It happened on match point during his quarter-final against Flavio Cobolli. Talk about bad timing.
You could really see the difference on court. While Sinner’s elbow didn’t seem to bother him much, Djokovic was clearly struggling. His movement looked slower than usual, and he couldn’t stay with the Italian in those long rallies.
The Serbian legend even took a medical timeout between the second and third sets.
A Classy Exchange at the Net
After the match ended, the two players had a quick chat at the net. Djokovic later revealed what Sinner told him during that moment.
"He apologized for me feeling bad today. There’s nothing to apologize for from his side. Obviously, he’s done very well for himself today, and for the last year and a half, he’s been the best player in the world. He’s gonna have a chance to win his first Wimbledon title."
That’s pretty classy from Sinner, honestly.
Djokovic made it clear there was no need for any apology. He’s been around long enough to know that injuries are just part of the game. You deal with them and move on.
The 38-year-old also shared what he told his opponent back.
"I wished him luck, it’s gonna be his first final here and I’m sure he’s going to be super pumped. After the finals they played in Paris, I think the anticipation for this final is big. It’s amazing. They’re definitely several levels above everyone right now."
Sinner will now face Carlos Alcaraz in the final – their second straight Grand Slam final matchup.
What’s Next for Djokovic?
So where does this leave the Serbian superstar? He’ll head home to rest up and get that hip sorted out.
The 2025 US Open is his next big target.
Look, the guy is still reaching semi-finals of major tournaments at 38 years old. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason to think he can’t still grab that 25th title.
The question is whether his body will hold up long enough to make it happen.
