Tennis legend John McEnroe praised Novak Djokovic for his sportsmanlike response after his defeat in the US Open semi-final. The 38-year-old lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a straight-sets match 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 on Friday.
Djokovic faced setbacks in the semi-finals of all four major tournaments this year while chasing his 25th grand slam title. Despite already holding the men’s record for major victories, another win would set him apart from the Open Era record he currently shares with Margaret Court.
Since claiming his last US Open title two years ago, Djokovic has not secured a grand slam win, coinciding with the rise of players like Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. McEnroe specifically highlighted Djokovic’s behavior after Alcaraz secured his spot in the US Open final.
McEnroe, drawing comparisons between Alcaraz and legendary players, discussed the possibility of Djokovic retiring following his defeat. Djokovic acknowledged his difficulty in keeping up with the younger Alcaraz, leading to speculation about his future in the sport.
Alcaraz will face world No. 1 Sinner in the US Open final after Sinner’s victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic reflected on his matches against the emerging talents and admitted to struggling with the physical demands of the tournament.
Despite the challenges posed by Alcaraz and Sinner, Djokovic remains determined to continue competing and striving for further success, though he acknowledged the tough road ahead.