Djokovic Finds Respite in Montenegro After Tough Wimbledon Defeat

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic was spotted in Montenegro on Monday, resting after his Wimbledon campaign.

Novak Djokovic is taking a well-deserved pause along the Montenegrin coast after a bruising Wimbledon campaign that ended in disappointment.

The 38-year-old Serbian tennis legend, who fell short of a record-extending Grand Slam triumph, has been spotted in Tivat, unwinding at the luxury resort of Porto Montenegro.

Djokovic’s latest bid for an eighth Wimbledon title was halted by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who swept past him in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, in Friday’s semifinals.

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It was a rare sight to see the seven-time champion so comprehensively outplayed on Centre Court and missing from the final for the first time since 2017.

The defeat also means Djokovic will remain tied with Pete Sampras on seven Wimbledon titles, one shy of Roger Federer’s record.

Following his exit, Djokovic traveled to Montenegro, where photos circulating on social media show him strolling along the Adriatic coastline, a picture of reflection and perhaps resignation.

Struggles with Age and Injuries

Djokovic admitted candidly that his body is no longer able to recover as it once did. He revealed that a leg injury sustained during his quarterfinal win over Flavio Cobolli severely hampered his movement against Sinner.

“It wasn't really a pleasant feeling on the court,” he said as per SuperSport.

“I don't want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best. I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That's it. He's in the finals. He was too strong.”

This season has been a difficult one physically for the Serbian star. Earlier this year, he was forced to retire from his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev after just one set due to a muscle tear.

While some observers have called his recent run of injuries unfortunate, Djokovic himself offered a more sober assessment.

"It's just age, the wear and tear of the body," he said.

"As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest."

He added: "It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis. I've proven that this year. But I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically.

The longer the tournament goes, the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reached the semis of every Slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz. These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with the tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that."

Still Committed to Grand Slam Pursuits

Despite these challenges, Djokovic made clear he has no intention of stepping away from the game. He confirmed he plans to return to Wimbledon next season.

"I think, regardless of the fact that I haven't won a Grand Slam this year, or last year, I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams," he said.

"Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most."

He reflected on the enormous effort he invests daily to remain competitive.

"The amount of hours that I spend on a daily basis to take care of myself, I'd like to challenge everyone who is out there on the tour to see if anybody takes care of themselves more than me," he said.

"And I, unfortunately, don't get rewarded for that right now, with injuries at the later stages of Slams. But I was rewarded for many, many years."

As for Sunday’s Wimbledon final between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the Spaniard holds a slight edge.

"I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now," he said.

"But it's just a slight advantage because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it's going to be, again, a very close match-up like they had in Paris."

For now, Djokovic will savor the sea air of Montenegro, determined to heal and prepare for yet another Grand Slam quest.