After losing, Djokovic reflected: They are just too strong, if I have to lose, I'd rather lose to these two players.

On Friday afternoon at the US Open, Alcaraz and Djokovic once again faced off in a clash between generations. The 22-year-old Alcaraz triumphed over the 38-year-old Serbian with a score of 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2, securing his seventh Grand Slam final and marking his second final at the New York event.

In this high-quality, captivating 2-hour 25-minute match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz avenged his losses to Djokovic from this year's Australian Open and last year's Paris Olympics. This victory moves him closer to his sixth Grand Slam title and puts him in contention to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking.

After the US Open semifinal, Djokovic congratulated Alcaraz. Following a straight-sets loss, Djokovic candidly assessed the situation. He admitted that currently, Alcaraz and world No. 1 Sinner are overall playing at a higher level than him.

“I have lost three times to these two at Grand Slams, which shows how strong they really are and how well they are playing,” Djokovic said. “Unfortunately, I ran out of energy after the second set. I felt I could keep up with his pace in the first two sets, but after that, I simply couldn't, while he maintained his high intensity.”

“The same thing happened against Sinner this year. Best-of-three sets is manageable, but the best-of-five format in the later stages of Grand Slams is very challenging for me.”

This season, Djokovic reached the semifinals in all four Grand Slams, with Sinner being the second player in 2025 to achieve the same. However, Djokovic retired after just one set against Zverev at the Australian Open, then lost to Sinner at both the French Open and Wimbledon, and was defeated by Alcaraz at the US Open.

The 38-year-old Djokovic received multiple on-court treatments from ATP physiotherapist Clay Sniteman during the US Open. He admitted that recovering as quickly as he did in his younger days is now very difficult.

“I'm satisfied with my tennis level, but the problem lies in my physical condition,” Djokovic said. “As I mentioned in the press conference after the quarterfinals, I try my best to keep my body at that pace and level to endure the length of matches. But this time, it wasn't enough. Unfortunately, this is something I can't fully control at this stage of my career.”

The holder of 100 tour titles acknowledged that it is frustrating when his fitness can't support his competitive level. Yet, he understands that this is an inevitable effect of aging.

“It's the natural result of time and age,” Djokovic said. “But I still enjoy the thrill of competing. The crowd's strong support today means a lot to me, and I truly enjoy playing. This is one of the main reasons I keep going—the love and support I've received worldwide over the past few years is unmatched.”

Djokovic last won a Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open. He holds the record for the most weeks as world No. 1 (428 weeks) and proved his ability to challenge top players by defeating Alcaraz at this year's Australian Open. However, he admits it remains a tough challenge.

“Going forward, defeating Sinner and Alcaraz under the best-of-five Grand Slam format will be very difficult for me,” Djokovic said. “I have a better chance in best-of-three matches, but five-set matches are much tougher. That said, I won't give up on Grand Slams. I'll keep striving to reach finals and compete for another title. Without a doubt, it will be an extremely tough task.”

According to ATP statistics, Djokovic's record this season is 31 wins and 10 losses. He was disappointed not to continue his title pursuit in New York but holds the utmost respect for the current leading players. “Losing is never easy, but if I have to lose, I'd rather lose to these two,” Djokovic said about Alcaraz and Sinner. “I know they are stronger now. You can only accept it and say to them, ‘Well done.’”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)