New York – Novak Djokovic acknowledged that the new generation of tennis stars is proving too strong after his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semifinal. The 38-year-old Serb fell in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2, ending another campaign short of his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.

The loss highlighted a trend for Djokovic in 2025, where he reached the semifinals of all four majors but was unable to progress further. He retired midway through his Australian Open match against Alexander Zverev and later fell to Jannik Sinner in both the French Open and Wimbledon before being stopped by Alcaraz in New York.

Speaking after the match, Djokovic admitted he struggled to maintain energy beyond the second set. “I had enough to battle for two sets, but after that I was out and he kept going,” he said. Known for his remarkable endurance, Djokovic conceded that five-set matches against Alcaraz and Sinner are increasingly difficult. “They are just too good, playing at a very high level,” he remarked.

Despite the defeat, Djokovic pointed to his earlier-season win over Alcaraz in Melbourne as proof that opportunities remain. He suggested that the Australian Open, historically his most successful tournament, could still provide his best chance at a 25th major. However, with Sinner chasing a third consecutive title and Alcaraz aiming for a career Grand Slam, Djokovic faces steep competition.