Novak Djokovic makes bleak confession after receiving Jannik Sinner apology

Novak Djokovic has admitted that "reality hits like never before" after carrying an injury during his Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old slipped on the court at the end of his last match and then cancelled his practice session on Thursday. And he was visibly struggling during his 6-3 6-3 6-4 defeat to the world No. 1.

The 24-time Major winner received an apology from Sinner, who could see he was injured. Djokovic then hurried into his post-match press conference after walking off Centre Court and confessed that it was "tough to accept" that his age was catching up to his and causing injuries in the latter stages of Grand Slam tournaments.

Asked how physically compromised he was during the one-hour and 55-minute match, Djokovic replied: "I mean, quite a bit. Honestly, wasn't really a pleasant feeling on the court. Yeah, I don't want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best.

"I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That's it. He's in the finals. He was too strong. I do feel, yeah, disappointed that I just wasn't able to move as well as I thought or hoped that I would."

It's the second time this season that an injury has derailed Djokovic's hopes of winning a milestone 25th Grand Slam title. At the Australian Open in January, he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters, then retired during his semi-final match.

And Djokovic explained that it was all to do with his age. "I don't think it's bad fortune. It's just age, the wear and tear of the body. As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest," he continued.

"It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis. I've proven that this year.

"But yeah, I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes, yeah, the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz.

"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that. It is what it is, you know? It's one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it, I guess."

The world No. 6 also felt he was running out of options to take care of his body, given his rigorous health and fitness routines. He added: "I don't know what I can do differently, to be honest, because the amount of hours that I spend on a daily basis to take care of myself, I'd like to challenge everyone who is out there on the tour to see if anybody takes cares of themselves more than me.

"And I, unfortunately, don't get rewarded for that right now, with injuries at the later stages of slams. But I was rewarded for many, many years.

"I might see it right now as a misfortune, but I have gotten so much from God and the life in my career that it would be a disservice really from me to God and to my body and to everything that I had in my career to start complaining about injuries because I've been fit for so long and had an incredible career, so...

"I'm just trying to make, I guess, the maximum out of what I have left. Again, I just got off the court, so of course, I'm upset and disappointed, mostly not for the loss, because obviously even if I was fit, I wasn't a favorite to win against Sinner, I know that, but I think I had good chances if I was fit.

"But it's just that physical aspect that is bothering me. You're there. You want to play. You're determined. But then the body doesn't want to listen. That's it. That's what you can say about it."

Even Sinner could see that Djokovic's body wasn't listening to him, as the Serb explained: "I mean, look, he apologised for me feeling bad today.

"There's nothing to apologise 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 going to have a chance to win his first Wimbledon title. I wished him good luck. It's going to be his first finals here. 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, is amazing. I mean, they're definitely several levels above everyone right now."

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