Djokovic says semis loss ‘could have been last match' at French Open
PAMedia/DPA
Paris
Novak Djokovic admitted his French Open semi-final defeat by Jannik Sinner could be his last match at Roland Garros.
The 38-year-old came up short in his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title in a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) loss to the world number one.
Afterwards he paused to wave goodbye to an appreciative crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where he won the title three times.
He said: 'It was just a great sense of gratitude for the kind of support that I received tonight. It was incredible.
'I don't think I have ever received this much support in this stadium in my career in big matches against the best players in the world. So I'm very, very honoured to experience that, obviously.
'I mean, 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.
'But if this was the farewell match at Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.'
Asked how long he has been pondering whether this may have been one final au revoir to Paris, the Serbian said: 'Not long.
'You know, I don't know. I don't know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career. You know, I'm going to keep on keeping on, yes?
'Obviously Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favourite tournament. I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready.
'I guess my best chances maybe are Wimbledon, you know, to win another slam - or a faster hard court, maybe Australia or something like that.
'I said it could have been my last match. I didn't say it was. So I don't know right now - 12 months at this point in my career is quite a long time.
'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. I don't know.
'So, yeah, I mean, that's all I can say for the moment.'
Sinner, who will face second seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday - their first meeting in a Grand Slam final - paid tribute to Djokovic.
'I think we saw that the match was a very tough match for both of us,' he said.
'I tried to stay there, you know, mentally trying to play every point in the right way with the good intensity.
'I'm very, very happy. It's amazing to see him still playing this kind of level he produces and the physical shape he's in, it's amazing.
'So that was a very, very tough match, but I'm very happy to be in the final here.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Draper's Queen's hopes dashed by big-serving Lehecka
PA Media/DPA London Jack Draper failed in his bid to be crowned the new British king of Queen's Club after a three-set defeat by Jiri Lehecka in the semi-final on Saturday. Lehecka became the first Czech finalist since Ivan Lendl 35 years ago after a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory. It was a tough loss for Draper on home soil with the British number one angrily smashing his racket and damaging a digital advertising hoarding as the match slipped away. But it has been a successful week for the 23-year-old, with his run to the last four earning him a top-four seeding at Wimbledon. The Czech will meet Carlos Alcaraz or fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in Sunday's final. 'It means a lot,' said Lehecka. 'You don't meet a player like Jack every day, he's an amazing competitor.' One poor service game at the start, punctuated by two aces and a double fault on break point, ultimately cost Draper the first set. He did not get a sniff on the Lehecka serve, with his fellow 23-year-old regularly sending down aces approaching 140mph. In the second Draper began making inroads, a stunning flicked backhand cross-court winner helping bring up his first break points. But Lehecka repelled all four to hold for 2-2, with Draper beginning to cut a frustrated figure on the baseline. With singer Jon Bon Jovi watching from the posh seats, the tension was briefly lifted with a blast of his biggest hit 'Livin' on a Prayer' at the change over. Draper re-emerged in a blaze of glory, an ace sealing a hold to love before a winner down the line levelled the match. Lehecka forced a break point at 4-4 but netted after a long, tense exchange and Draper survived. However, Lehecka was looking the stronger and, after a comfortable hold, snatched the break for 6-5 with a stunning backhand winner. Draper smashed his racket in anger, earning a code violation, before Lehecka finished the job to win in two hours and seven minutes, ensuring Britain's wait for a first Queen's winner since Andy Murray in 2016 goes on. While Draper will be disappointed not to have reached the final - something he had dreamed of as a child - he can be encouraged by his overall performance as Wimbledon approaches. His run to the last four ensures he not only goes there in good confidence but as one of the top four seeds, ensuring he would avoid defending champion Alcaraz or world number one Jannik Sinner until at least the semi-finals. 'I don't condone that behaviour, but at the same time, that's kind of where I was at today,' Draper said of his racquet-smashing. 'I was trying to use everything I could. I tried to compete [for] every ball. But in the end, anger just spilled over a little bit too much.'
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Kane stars as Bayern beat Boca Juniors 2-1
PA Media/dpa London Harry Kane scored one and created another in a 2-1 win over Boca Juniors as Bayern Munich became the first side to beat South American opposition at this year's Club World Cup. Kane, who drew a blank during the German's 10-goal mauling of Auckland in their opening game, produced a smart first-half finish. Boca, roared on by a partisan crowd at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, drew level through Miguel Merentiel's stunning solo effort midway through the second half. However, Michael Olise, who had already had an early effort disallowed, scored what proved to be the winner after Kane's composed pass, with victory sealing Bayern's progress from Group C. Olise had a ninth-minute effort ruled out by VAR following a foul on Boca goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin before Kingsley Coman fired an effort over the bar. Kane opened the scoring in the 18th minute when he reacted fastest to a loose ball in the penalty area and guided a left-footed finish into the bottom corner. Bayern should have doubled their advantage moments later, but Coman failed to get a touch as Serge Gnabry flashed the ball across the face of goal. Kevin Zenon's powerful free-kick had to be punched away by Manuel Neuer as Boca threatened for the first time, while at the other end, Marchesin was alert to prevent Olise rounding him following a swift counter-attack. Zenon shot straight at Neuer from 12 yards after Bayern failed to clear their lines, while at the other end Olise had a free-kick well saved by Marchesin and Kane sent a set-piece narrowly over the bar. After the interval, a Boca break ended with Luis Advincula firing over the bar. Olise spurned another decent opening as he shot straight at Marchesin after Raphael Guerreiro's clever dummy. Kane had an effort deflected behind by Lautaro Di Lollo but Boca grew in presence as the half wore on. Merentiel equalized after 66 minutes with a superb effort, gathering the ball near the right touchline and rounding Josip Stanisic before firing past Neuer. Olise restored the Bundesliga champions' lead seven minutes from time as Kane laid the ball back for the France forward and he drove the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Konrad Laimer looked to have added a third after his composed finish following a neat one-two with Thomas Müller, but the Austrian was flagged offside. There was a slight dampener on the result for Bayern as Jamal Musiala left the field injured.
Qatar Tribune
an hour ago
- Qatar Tribune
Medvedev beats Zverev to reach Halle final
DPA Halle (Germany) Daniil Medvedev continued his impressive record against Alexander Zverev on Saturday to deny the German on home grass and reach the Halle final. The third seed prevailed 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 over the second seed in the semi-final of the Wimbledon warm-up in the west of Germany. Medvedev had the only break point of the first set but failed to take it, only to fly through the tie-break and seize the initiative. The Russian, who now bosses the head-to-heads over the German 13-7, went 2-0 up in the second set but saw the home favourite hit back. Medvedev soon squandered three match points on Zverev's serve at 5-6 and the German, who had been sick again in his quarter-final, then dominated the second set tie-break. The 29-year-old Medvedev then broke for 2-1 in the decider and wrapped up a meeting in Sunday's showpiece with Kazakhstan's unseeded Alexander Bublik, who beat Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Bublik had shocked world number one Jannik Sinner in the last 16. It is Medvedev's first final in 15 months. 'I am happy with my level, I played great,' Medvedev said courtside. 'I could have done much better when I had the break in the second but it is normal. The same happened in the third set that when I had the break, he started playing better, returning better. 'I am happy that in the third set I managed to stay more composed and managed to save those break points. All the matches (against Zverev) are very tight. When the matches are tight like today, they can go any way.' Zverev has again flattered to deceive this year with Munich his only tournament victory. He lost the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner and went out in the last eight at the French Open. The world number three heads to Wimbledon - the third grand slam of the season - in mixed form as he seeks a first major singles title. Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has twice reached the semi-finals at the All England Club and is again looking strong on grass. Wimbledon begins on June 30.
