Novak Djokovic was dominated by Jannik Sinner in the second Wimbledon men’s singles semifinal on Friday.
Djokovic fell to Sinner in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, with the defending champion advancing to his second consecutive final at the All England Club.
Many considered this year’s Wimbledon championships to be the last best chance for the Serb to clinch a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
Since winning the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has been attempting to secure a quarter-century of major crowns, a tally that would see him surpass Margaret Court for the outright most of any man or woman in history.
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He has come close on a number of occasions, particularly at Wimbledon 2024 and the Australian Open 2026, where he reached the finals.
Aged 39, Djokovic’s time to complete the feat is running out, and former American player Steve Johnson does not think he is going to get it done.
Steve Johnson reacts to Novak Djokovic’s loss to Jannik Sinner
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Johnson said: “Beating a Sinner and a Zverev or a Sinner and an Alcaraz, I just don’t think he has it in him.
“Go back to Australia this year, he gets through the first three rounds in straight sets, get a withdrawal in round four. He’s down two sets to Musetti, then he withdraws.
“Then he goes and lays it all on the line and beats Sinner in that epic five-set, and then it was a ho-hum loss to Alcaraz in the final.
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“So even with a week off in the middle of a Slam, he still did not have enough gas in the tank to get through both.
“It’s just not getting any easier. I just don’t think he is getting to 25 unless he gets some serious help. The mountain he has to climb now is like Everest is on steroids.”
Novak Djokovic’s new ATP ranking after Wimbledon exit
Having matched his semifinal finish from last year, Djokovic has neither lost nor gained any ATP points.
He has, however, seen his ranking go up one spot from eighth to seventh in the world, due to Taylor Fritz falling three places.
Djokovic, who started the year as the world number four, went from fourth to seventh after his third-round loss to Joao Fonseca at Roland Garros.
The 24-time major champion then fell to eighth, which saw him become the seventh seed at Wimbledon with Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal.
Should he fall any further down the rankings, Djokovic may start facing Sinner and Alcaraz earlier in Grand Slams, which may actually benefit him.
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