Novak Djokovic sees something special in the way tennis players handle crushing defeats.
As the 24-time Grand Slam champion prepares for his 2025 Wimbledon campaign, he’s reflecting on the unique sportsmanship that defines the sport, particularly praising Jannik Sinner’s grace after losing an epic five-hour French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.
For Djokovic, these moments of composure in defeat reveal tennis at its best.
Djokovic Reflects on Tennis Culture and the Power of Grace in Defeat
The Serbian star enters Wimbledon as the No. 6 seed, his lowest seeding since 2018, and will face Frenchman Alexandre Müller in the first round. He’s chasing a historic eighth title at the All England Club, which would draw him level with Roger Federer for the most men’s singles crowns at SW19.
During his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic highlighted how tennis culture stands apart from many other professional sports when it comes to handling defeat with dignity.
“Most of the times I had Grand Slam finals with opponents in the last 20 years, the majority of the time is always quite respectful both ways whether I win or lose against my opponents. Tennis really stands out as a very good example of that compared to other sports,” he said.
The former world No. 1, who’s making a bid for his record-extending 25th major title, pointed to a distinct tennis tradition: the runner-up speaking to the crowd during the post-match ceremony. While acknowledging it’s never easy to express gratitude after a tough loss, he believes this moment offers players a valuable opportunity to recognize their opponent, the tournament organizers, and the countless volunteers who make these events possible.
Learning From Recent Champions
Djokovic drew particular attention to Sinner’s response after the Italian’s grueling loss in the French Open final, a match that lasted five hours and 29 minutes and saw Alcaraz complete a stunning comeback from two sets down.
“When you go to the locker room, obviously you have to let the steam off and kind of filter those emotions in whatever shape or form. It does depend on the person. I mean if you see Sinner and Alcaraz after 5 and a half hours, Sinner could be bitter after dropping that match,” he said.
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“But he was gracious in his speech, came back, played a good tournament a week after and he’s here and he’s moving on. I think it sends the right message with the rivalry and the way they respect each other, I think it’s beautiful to see.”
Novak Djokovic on Aryna Sabalenka’s comments after losing the Roland Garros final to Coco Gauff, ‘Maybe it came out in the wrong way but she didn’t mean to disrespect Coco’
“Look, we all at the end of the day are human beings that have difficult emotions at the end of the day… pic.twitter.com/CBRPJnBIdN
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 28, 2025
The Serbian also addressed another high-profile example of post-match emotions when asked about Aryna Sabalenka’s controversial comments following her French Open final loss to Coco Gauff. Sabalenka initially suggested she lost due to her own errors rather than Gauff’s play, comments she later walked back after criticism.
The Djokovic-Sinner Rivalry Takes Center Stage
As Wimbledon approaches, the evolving rivalry between Djokovic and Sinner adds another layer of intrigue to the tournament. The two have faced each other nine times on the ATP Tour, with Sinner currently holding a narrow 5-4 edge in their head-to-head record.
Their most recent encounter came at the 2025 French Open semifinals, where the Italian world No. 1 delivered a commanding straight-sets victory. The win marked Sinner’s fourth consecutive victory over Djokovic, signaling a potential shift in their rivalry’s dynamics.
However, grass courts tell a different story. On the lawns of Wimbledon, Djokovic has proven untouchable against his younger rival, defeating Sinner in both their All England Club meetings. He overcame a two-set deficit to win their 2022 quarterfinal clash in five sets, then followed up with a more routine straight-sets victory in the 2023 semifinals.
These contrasting results across surfaces underscore the unpredictable nature of their rivalry and set up a potential blockbuster meeting should their paths cross again at SW19. With both players in the same half of the draw, a semifinal showdown could be on the cards, offering another chapter in one of tennis’s most compelling inter-generational rivalries.
