Djokovic: “I always have the highest expectations for myself”
After outlasting Felix Auger-Aliassime in five hours and 15 minutes to reach a record 15th Wimbledon semifinal, Novak Djokovic, 39, called the win “as good as a final” and admitted he can no longer remember the last time he played a match completely healthy.
Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2026 | © Ch. Caillaud / PsNewz
Past midnight, some 45 minutes after cutting his on-court interview short – “let’s keep it short, I have no energy left,” he had told Centre Court – Novak Djokovic walked in to meet the international press following his win against Félix Auger-Aliassime. Fielding questions in both English and Serbian, the 39-year-old savoured a five-hour epic he rated “as good as a final,” yet kept returning to a sober reminder: for all the emotion of the moment, the tournament is still running, and his work here is not yet done.
Like Messi. At 39, one scores goals; you win after five hours and 15 minutes.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It would be nice to play 90 minutes like him. (Laughter.)
What do you make of how late this tournament is going lately, with so many matches finishing after dark? It’s shifted during your career.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I feel like I played more indoor tournament than outdoor, to be honest. But at the same time, it’s exciting to be part of such an epic match that was played over five hours, whatever it was. I don’t even know exact time. Just one of the best matches I was honestly part of in Wimbledon. I don’t recall playing this long any match. Maybe Roger final 2019 comes close in terms of the time and length.
[editor’s note: At five hours and 15 minutes, it was only the fifth match of Djokovic’s career to run at least five hours – and the joint second-longest of them, level with his 2018 Wimbledon battle against Rafael Nadal and behind only their five-hour-53-minute Australian Open final of 2012. Djokovic has never lost any match of 4 hours and 55 minutes of play or more. His record there is 6-0 record, including, at Wimbledon, the 2018 semifinal with Nadal (5h15) and the 2019 final with Federer (4h57)]
But it was really, really super even. Anyone’s game. Honestly, also Felix really played on a high level. He dropped his level a little bit in that super tiebreak. I used all my opportunities and hung in there, played the right shots. That was enough. The crowd was up on their feet, particularly the last 30 minutes of the match. They also recognized how special the moment is of us battling the curfew, as well, a few minutes earlier than 11. Yeah, just very proud to come out as a winner.
Can you put into words the emotions of a match like that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: There were a lot of emotions, a lot of tension, a lot of everything, a lot of ups and downs. In matches like this, something is always happening. What matters is to walk off at the end with your head held high, whether in victory or defeat. For me it was a real pleasure to be part of such an epic match – to play for five hours against a guy 15 years younger, at my age. Sometimes I have to underline it to myself: it really is out of the ordinary. I don’t like to speak about myself in superlatives, but I have to be proud of a result like this, of this experience, of this kind of effort and energy.
I still want to go at least one more step further. But this was as good as a final for me.
How much harder has it become on your body?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The situation has changed a lot in the last two years, almost every day there are difficulties, new things I have to deal with. I don’t remember the last time I played a match completely healthy. So this victory is even greater, because the effort — mine and my team’s — only we know what it’s like. So I can say I’m very proud and, of course, thrilled by an experience like this. I hope I’ll be fresh enough, and that I’ll be able to play and recover well, without the bigger problems I had last year.
I know you said on court it’s another semifinal, that you’re not here just to make the semifinal. Are you ever surprised by yourself, by what you’re capable of doing after so many years?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, yes and no. I guess yes, at this stage that I’m still able to battle these young guys that have 15 years less than me, that I’m able to beat them at the tightest possible scoreline. Of course, in a sense, it is really a nice surprise. But at the same time, I always have the highest expectations for myself. I can be very self-critical, very hard on myself. At the same time, I try to also enjoy the moments like this. I don’t know what tomorrow brings. To be honest, let’s see. I’m still in the tournament. I still want to go at least one more step further. But this was as good as a final for me. I gave it all that I had, gave it my best. I think it was really thrilling experience for us players, but also crowd present in the stadium, I’m sure also a lot of people watching on TV. Glad to be part of another historic match.
You had that incredible run to the final in Australia, defeating Sinner in the semifinal. How do you feel now compared to then, and does it feel quite similar or not?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, I had a very long semis against Sinner. This is quarters. Now I have to play Sinner in semis. There’s difference, and difference in the surface. Obviously that was the first big tournament of the year for me, coming fresher from several months of break and preparation. It’s a bit different now. But nevertheless, another great, historic run for me at the Grand Slams. This is what counts the most, honestly. I still try to prove to myself and others that I’m able to compete with the best players in the world and beat them in the biggest stage. That’s what I’ve done in Australia. It’s what I’ve done here. Hopefully I can do it few more matches here in London.
In the end, you have to stop and take stock: that at 39 I’m still playing this way, still winning – it’s out of the ordinary.
What kind of challenge does Sinner represent?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He’s such a complete player, he’s improved so much. Playing against him is the ultimate challenge you can have. Sinner is number one right now and the best player in the world, and that kind of continuity and consistency he has in his results is really remarkable.
You said on court that you won it with a big heart. Did the heart take over from a tired body?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: As I said, there are ups and downs in matches like this, and it’s hard to keep your concentration for five hours. Again, I have to point out: a guy 15 years younger, who is third or fourth in the world, motivated, playing at a high level – it’s no small thing for me. But these challenges keep getting bigger for me on court, and I have to give much more to win on evenings like this. Of course, I had a break advantage, but one weak service game and I lost it — he came back. At this level you can’t allow yourself those drops, because you get punished immediately. But in the end I managed to pull it out – physically, emotionally, psychologically. It was one of the most gripping matches I’ve played recently, and one of the longest. In the end, you have to stop and take stock: that at 39 I’m still playing this way, still winning – it’s out of the ordinary.
