To see small victories in defeats and not wallow in self pity are qualities that separate the greats from the ordinary.
Key Factors
Most players who would have received the kind of shellacking that Jannik Sinner gave Novak Djokovic in Friday’s Wimbledon semifinal – 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes – would have felt morose, incapable, and left to question their life choices. The principal reason behind Djokovic’s optimism is how he held up physically during the five-hour, 15-minute quarterfinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime and recovered before the semifinal. Under the 52-week ranking system, a player gains points from an event only if he betters previous year’s performance. 7 in the live rankings, but only 1375 points separate Auger-Aliassime at No. 4 from Taylor Fritz at No. 10.
Because he went out in the third round as compared to the semifinals in 2025, after Roland-Garros, Djokovic lost 630 points and dropped out of the top-four. The latest last-four appearance was Djokovic’s sixth in seven Slams. At the Australian Open, he even beat Sinner in the semifinal and fought Carlos Alcaraz toe-to-toe. But he isn’t satisfied. But one adverse outcome can spell doom. He is No. It is going to be an almighty jostle ahead of the US Open.
