Djokovic: Roland Garros loss 'could have been the last match I ever played here'

Roland Garros

Djokovic: Roland Garros loss 'could have been the last match I ever played here'

The 38-year-old leaves Paris proud of his effort

Peter Staples/ATP Tour Novak Djokovic exits Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday following his semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner. By ATP Staff

As Novak Djokovic made his way off Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday, the 24-time major champion paused, set down his bags and turned back to wave goodbye to a crowd that roared in appreciation.

The 38-year-old spoke candidly in his post-match press conference, reflecting on the uncertainty of the future following his semi-final loss to top seed Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros.

“This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know. That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end,” said Djokovic, a three-time Roland Garros champion. “If this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.

“Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months' time here again? I don't know. That's all I can say for the moment.”

The Serbian fought hard for more than three hours, showing flashes of his vintage best, but it was not enough to dethrone the Italian, who won 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3). Djokovic will rue letting slip three set points in the third set.

“[It] was a straight-set loss, but I feel like I did give him a run for his money, so to say,” Djokovic said. “I tried to make him work till the last shot. I did what I could. This is sport. You have to just shake the hand of the better player and move on.

“I must say that I was proud of my effort tonight [and] in this tournament, considering I wasn't in great form coming into Roland Garros, but he was just too good for me tonight.”

Djokovic now trails Sinner 4-5 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with the 23-year-old claiming victory in four consecutive encounters. Djokovic, who won his 100th tour-level title by triumphing in Geneva before the clay-court major, spoke highly of his rival.

“Jannik is the kind of player who loves to play [at a] very fast pace the entire match. He's very physical. He's very fit, and he's striking the ball incredibly well,” Djokovic said. “He seems to always be on good timing. Rarely he's off-balance, and he's just playing the tennis of his life.

“Wherever you play him, whatever surface, you know that you're going to get that fast pace the entire time, which for me I don't mind necessarily so much, because it makes me alert from the very beginning.”

While Djokovic fell to 21-8 on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Sinner advanced to his first Roland Garros final. The top seed will add another chapter in his thrilling rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz.

“I think their rivalry is something that our sport needs, no doubt,” said Djokovic, No. 5 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “The way they are playing and the way they are approaching tennis life, I think they are going to have very successful careers. I'm sure that we're going to see them lifting the big trophies quite often.”

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