Djokovic: I still firmly believe I can win my 25th Grand Slam title

Although he was defeated in the Australian Open final this year, Djokovic is still optimistic about his upcoming Grand Slam pursuits. The 38-year-old Serbian athlete fought hard to overcome Sinner in a five-set semifinal but was eventually beaten by the world number one, Alcaraz, in the final.

When asked whether he still believes he can win his 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic confidently replied, "I have always believed it was possible; otherwise, I wouldn’t have continued. Winning a tough five-set match against Sinner and then battling Alcaraz for four sets is already a solid performance. I’m disappointed with my form in the second and third sets because I started so well, but things changed — that’s the nature of competitive sports."

"Looking back at my performance over the past few weeks, reaching the final again and being just two sets away from the title is an incredible achievement for me. Losing is bitter, but I have to accept the result."

Djokovic’s last Grand Slam victory dates back to the 2023 US Open, and in 2025 he was stopped at the semifinals in all four majors. He admitted that adjusting his mindset in recent years has helped him handle the pressure of big tournaments: "In the past few years, I lowered my expectations, which freed me from a lot of unnecessary pressure. Though nerves and stress are always present, I don’t want to be overwhelmed by them. Actually, not always being the top favorite in Grand Slams feels good, as it fuels my motivation in the later stages of tournaments."

Djokovic took the first set against Alcaraz in the final and fought hard in the fourth set, but after 3 hours and 2 minutes, he suffered a disappointing four-set loss. This defeat leveled their head-to-head record at 5-5, with Djokovic having lost all three Grand Slam finals against Alcaraz.

"The first set was one of the best I’ve played in recent years," Djokovic reflected on the match. "In the middle of the fourth set, I regained energy and momentum, and the crowd gave me tremendous support. Unfortunately, I missed a break point at 4-4 on my forehand, making an unforced error on a crucial point. Just one or two points can change the course of a match — that’s the reality. I’m simply disappointed I couldn’t maintain the level from the first set. My mind kept imagining different scenarios, but this is reality and I have to accept it."

"Overall, I performed very well in this tournament," Djokovic concluded. "I know winning the title would have required beating both of them (Sinner and Alcaraz). Defeating one of them is already a great achievement, a step further than last year’s Grand Slam, which is very encouraging."

Regarding Alcaraz, who achieved a career Grand Slam by age 22, Djokovic gave high praise: "His accomplishments fully reflect his brilliant career. I can’t find enough words to praise him; he deserves all the accolades. He is an outstanding young man with strong values and a harmonious family life. To have already secured a legendary place in tennis history at just 22 is truly remarkable."

(Translated by: Wang Fei)