Novak Djokovic Breaks Tradition with Post-Match Interview After Loss to Jannik Sinner
In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic was given a unique opportunity to address the crowd following his defeat in the semi-finals of the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia. The Serbian tennis star, who lost to Jannik Sinner with a score of 6-4, 6-2 in just 62 minutes, was allowed to speak on court—a privilege usually reserved for winners.
Typically, only the victorious player gets to address fans after a match, but Djokovic was interviewed by renowned BBC broadcaster Andrew Castle, allowing him to share his thoughts on the match. In contrast, Taylor Fritz, who lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the other semi-final earlier in the day, did not have a similar opportunity to engage with the audience.
Djokovic, who earned £1.1 million just for stepping onto the court in Riyadh, expressed his regret for the one-sided nature of the match. "I’m sorry you couldn’t see a longer match today," he said during his rare address. "It’s his [Sinner’s] fault, not mine. I tried to intimidate him a bit in that last game with the 0-15 point, but it didn’t work. It felt like a runaway train. He was smacking the ball from all corners. He was just too good. Well done to him and good luck in the finals."
Despite the defeat, Djokovic maintained his passion for the sport, stating, "It’s always worth it competing against Sinner and Alcaraz. The love for the game and the passion for tennis is there. Excuse my language, but it’s never nice when someone kicks your a** like this on the court. But it’s amazing that I’m still able to play at a high level."
Reflecting on his career, Djokovic added, "Being in the top five or top 10 feels great. I’m trying my best. I’m grateful for everything God has granted me in my life. It’s been an incredible journey, and there’s so much to celebrate." He humorously wished for a younger body for a year to compete more effectively against his younger rivals, saying, "I still have the drive. I know it’s becoming much more difficult to win against Jannik and Carlos, but I’m going to keep challenging them until it happens."
After Djokovic’s heartfelt address, Castle jokingly reprimanded Sinner for "being so mean to older people." In response to his impressive victory over the 38-year-old Djokovic, Sinner praised his opponent, stating, "Such a great role model for the younger generation. Seeing him compete, practice, and train for these moments is amazing. What he has achieved in his career is incredible. I see him as a real idol."
Looking ahead to Saturday’s final against Alcaraz, where the winner will take home an additional £3.4 million, Sinner expressed his enthusiasm: "I look forward to every match we face each other. It’s going to be a great battle. I’ll try to be as ready as I can. It’s a huge honor to play against him again, and I hope everyone is looking forward to it as much as I am."
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