John McEnroe issued an ominous verdict on Novak Djokovic’s tennis future after the great Serb’s loss to Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon semi-finals.
Djokovic lost 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to top seed Sinner, who delivered an outstanding display to progress to his maiden final at the All England Club.
The 38-year-old was struggling with an injury he sustained in his four-set quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli two days earlier.
In his four-set win over Alex de Minaur in the last 16, a badly out-of-sorts Djokovic dropped the opening set 6-1, which is the most lopsided scoreline by which he has ever lost a first set at Wimbledon.
McEnroe, who was commentating on the match, argued Djokovic’s level was so low that he would retire if it continued.
“I can’t remember him ever play a worse set than this. I mean, it’s literally been years,” said the former world No 1. “He’s absolutely disgusted with himself.
“It’s not gonna happen that he continues to play this badly. If he did, for two more sets, he’d quit on the spot. I would predict [that Djokovic will retire], if he played like this for two more sets.”
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Speaking on the BBC after Djokovic’s defeat to Sinner, McEnroe expressed his view that the Grand Slam record holder’s time at the very top of the sport may be over.
“He’s turned back time for years, but it’s caught up with Djokovic today,” the seven-time major singles champion assessed.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever looked at him and thought, ‘I’m not sure he’s coming back’. I don’t know if he can accept being a notch or two below these guys (Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz). Father Time is undefeated, right? And that’s what we’re seeing right now.
“He’s finally joined the crowd of older champions that realise the best is behind them and then they have to deal with that unfortunate fact.
“I don’t know how much of it was an injury or accumulation of difficult matches, but Father Time is undefeated. Honestly, it’s been amazing he’s got this far. Crazy. Phenomenal. Beyond belief.
“Novak will have a lot of thinking to do over the next month or so. Does he think it was because he was injured, or is his body beat up?”
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