US OPEN

September 5, 2025

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/N. Djokovic

6-4, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Novak, what you've done at the majors this year would be the envy of probably every player on the tour except two. What are your thoughts about what you've accomplished and whether that would be enough for you in the future?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think you're right. You know, I lost three out of four slams in semis against these guys, so they're just too good, you know, playing on a really high level.

Unfortunately, I ran out of gas after the second set. I think I had enough energy to battle him and to keep up with his rhythm for two sets. After that I was gassed out, and he kept going.

That's kind of what I felt this year also with Jannik. Yeah, best-of-five makes it very, very difficult for me to play them. Particularly if it's like the end stages of the Grand Slam. Yeah.

Q. And the future, whether that can be enough for you in the future, this level at the majors?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, I'm happy with my level of tennis, but you know, it's just the physicality of it, you know. As I said after the quarterfinals, the press conference when I spoke to you guys, I said, you know, I'm going to do my very best to get my body in shape to sustain that level and that rhythm for as many hours as it's needed, but, you know, it wasn't enough. That's something I, unfortunately at this point in time in my career, can't control.

I can do only as much as I can do. Yeah, it will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams. I think I have a better chance best-of-three, but best-of-five, it's tough.

I'm not giving up on Grand Slams in that regard, having said that. I'm going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy at least. But, you know, it's going to be a very difficult task.

Q. How do you gauge their improvement and Carlos's improvement that you saw today and the sort of gulf between where you are, which is seemingly better than just about everybody else besides them, and where they are?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's expected that the young guys are improving. These two players are the best in the world right now. You know, if you're not improving, then something is not right, so you have to adapt to that and make changes.

But they seem to have very good team, very good strategy of training and approach to the tennis world. The results are a testament to that. So there is no doubt that they are better and better each year, and that's also expected, to be honest. It's nothing unusual.

Q. You were very philosophical after the Wimbledon loss to Jannik. I just wonder what are the feelings this time? Are they similar or different to that one?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, it's quite simple for me. I think, not to repeat myself, I think I answered it the first question what really happened today. Of course, it's frustrating on the court when you are not able to keep up with that level physically, but at the same time, it's something also expected, I guess. You know, it comes with time and with age.

Yeah, I still enjoy the thrill of competition. Today I received amazing support again on the court from the crowd. Very thankful for that. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Yeah, that's one of the biggest reasons why I keep on going. The love that I've been getting around the world has been amazing the last couple of years.

Q. That was basically my question. How much fun do you have playing like that, people loving you? Is that enough for you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I had fun, particularly in the second set, competing with Carlos, had some amazing points. The crowd was into it, and it was quite close.

But, yeah, he was just a better player in the important moments. It's never fun losing a tennis match, but at the same time, if I'm to lose to someone, I would lose to these two guys. I know that they are just better at the moment. You just have to hand it to them and say, Well done.

Q. I'm curious about the physicality. This year, has there been points in the tournament where you've kind of hit a wall, or is it more just cumulative throughout the tournament that you've reached the...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It's mostly cumulative. Mostly cumulative. Pretty much every match there's something happening that you have to address and deal with, but I think overall I just, yeah, ran out of gas.

Didn't have any, as I said, thankfully any injury that prevented me to play today. No complaints there. But just, yeah, the level of fitness wasn't enough for Carlos.

Q. I know it's probably too early to say, but do you have a sense of what your plans will be between now and Australia?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: That's far. Australia is far (laughing). At least at this stage of my career, I mean, I'm not thinking that far, to be honest. I don't know.

I'm planning to play Athens tournament, that's for sure, but other than that, it's really still a question mark where I'm going to go and what I'm going to do.

Q. This was kind of the same framed question. You talked about you could stay with them better in best-of-three. So do you think you would enter more of these tournaments next year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: We'll see. I have to address that with my team, but that's a sentiment definitely after the Grand Slam season this year that, you know -- not to say that I will skip Grand Slams. I still want to play Grand Slams, Grand Slam season, full Grand Slam season next year.

Let's see whether that's going to happen or not, but you know, because slams are slams. They are just different from any other tournament. They are the pillars of our sport, the most important tournaments we have.

But, yeah, I do fancy my chances a bit more in best-of-three, I guess, one-week tournaments or the Masters tournaments where you have almost two weeks with quite a few days between matches. So, you know, that could serve me better in the matchups against them.