Djokovic Had 'slap From Reality In Last Couple Of Years'

Novak Djokovic says he still believes he tin triumph an outright grounds 25th Grand Slam singles title - contempt being fixed a "slap from reality successful nan past mates of years".

The Serb awesome equalled Margaret Court's grounds of 24 awesome singles titles pinch his 2023 US Open triumph, but nan emergence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has prevented him from going 1 further.

Alcaraz and Sinner, nan world's apical 2 players, person divided nan past 8 Slam titles betwixt them.

Djokovic met Sinner and Alcaraz successful nan semi-finals astatine 3 of nan 4 fields this twelvemonth but wounded and fatigue hampered nan 38-year-old connected each occasion.

"I judge that to immoderate grade I americium nan superman who tin ne'er injure myself, that tin ne'er beryllium weak," Djokovic said successful an question and reply pinch Piers Morgan.

"But I sewage a slap from reality successful nan past mates of years. I'm conscionable getting to cognize this caller chapter."

Djokovic pulled retired of nan Paris Masters successful October without giving an definitive reason, though he was hampered by wounded successful a semi-final nonaccomplishment to qualifier Valentin Vacherot astatine nan earlier Shanghai Masters.

He qualified for nan ATP Finals arsenic nan third-best subordinate connected nan men's circuit but pulled retired nan time earlier nan tourney pinch injury.

Djokovic mislaid to Sinner successful nan French Open and Wimbledon semi-finals and to Alcaraz astatine nan aforesaid shape astatine nan US Open.

"I'm alert that [comparing] my champion level now and their champion level now, they're better. That's nan reality," Djokovic said of nan pair.

"I person ever believed successful things that are almost intolerable to achieve."

Sinner reached each 4 awesome finals successful a twelvemonth erstwhile he besides served a three-month doping suspension aft doubly testing affirmative for a banned constituent successful 2024.

Wada accepted Sinner "did not intend to cheat" and Djokovic said he believed nan Italian "didn't do it connected purpose".

However, Djokovic warned that nan lawsuit would stay a "cloud" complete nan 24-year-old passim his career.

"That unreality will travel him arsenic nan unreality of Covid will travel me," said Djokovic, who was deported from Australia successful 2022 because he was not vaccinated against nan virus.

"Over clip it will fade, but I don't deliberation it will disappear."

A number of players questioned nan timing of Sinner's ban, pinch Djokovic adding: "There is nan deficiency of transparency, nan inconsistency, nan convenience [of] nan prohibition coming betwixt nan slams truthful he doesn't miss out. It was very, very odd.

"I really don't for illustration really nan lawsuit was being handled. You could perceive truthful galore different players who had akin situations coming retired successful nan media and complaining that it was a preferable treatment."