From the special reporter "Vijesti"
It's not fate, it's the years.
Novak Djokovic refused to "play the end game" half an hour after his Wimbledon defeat to Janik Siner, and moreover, he mentioned the next Grand Slam, the US Open, but in the second part of the press conference he was brutally honest, both with himself and with everyone around him:
"I can still play well when I'm fit and fresh, but it's getting harder and harder for me to play Grand Slams and best-of-three matches. The longer the tournament goes on, the harder it gets for me, I get exhausted by the semifinals, and there Siner and Alkaras are waiting for me, who are sharp, and I go into the match with "half a tank". It's hard to accept that, but I have to fight through it," said Djokovic.
The packed Wimbledon media theater awaited Djokovic's arrival, his big words and headline material (perhaps a farewell to Wimbledon), and then the organizers changed the plan and sent the journalists - Carlos Alcaraz, two-time champion and Wimbledon finalist for the third year in a row.
The Spaniard was surprised:
"I've never seen this hall so full."
He was also surprised by Siner's easy victory over Djokovic, he spoke for about 15 minutes in English, then in Spanish, and then gave up his chair to Novak.
The last match on Wimbledon's Centre Court for the 38-year-old champion?
No, it's not.
"I hope not. I would like to come back at least once. I've just come off the field now and it's hard for me to see the bigger picture and make plans for the coming months and year."
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It was obvious that he was not completely fit, as the match progressed he found it increasingly difficult to move, although Siner dictated the game, rhythm and result practically from the beginning of the match, from the third game.
"I had a physical problem, it wasn't a pleasant feeling on the court, but I don't want to talk about the injury in detail. Nor to take away from Siner's victory. I congratulate him on a great game, he was too strong. I am disappointed that I couldn't move the way I hoped and wanted. I don't think it's anything more difficult, I believe that everything could be put in order by the US Open."
Djokovic didn't want to complain.
"It would be ungrateful to complain about injuries now. I was fit for a long time, had an incredible career, broke many records. Now I'm trying to get the best and most out of what I have left. I don't think the injuries that are happening to me are bad luck, it's about the years. The body feels everything that has happened, reality has hit me like never before in the last year, year and a half. It's hard to accept, because I can still play very well when I'm fit and fresh. I wouldn't be the favorite against Siner even if I was completely fit, but I would have a much better chance."
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