Jimmy Connors Claims Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Want to Use Aging Novak Djokovic As ‘Springboard’

Novak Djokovic, who lost to World No.1 Jannik Sinner in the French Open final, will next be chasing his eighth Wimbledon title.

Jimmy Connors Claims Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Want to Use Aging Novak Djokovic As ‘Springboard’

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jimmy Connors (Image via Sportsmatik, X/We Are Tennis, Novak Djokovic)

Jannik Sinner progressed to his career’s first French Open final after moving past Novak Djokovic in a thrilling semifinal. Djokovic was bidding to win his historic 25th Grand Slam title and before meeting Sinner, he was breezing past his opponents one after the other.

It was Sinner who ended his run in the Australian Open semifinal last year. Since his exit from the Melbourne Slam, Djokovic reached a Major final just once: at Wimbledon last year which he lost to Carlos Alcaraz. It was Nole’s second consecutive defeat to the Spaniard in the Wimbledon final.

Djokovic has reached the twilight of his career and even though it’s difficult to write him off in Grand Slam events, these two youngsters as well as his fitness problems are hampering him from reaching his 25 Grand Slam tally. Former player Jimmy Connors, during his Advantage Connors podcast, said, “Getting older and playing against young guys is not an easy task“.

Djokovic entered this French Open after winning his career’s 100th title of his career at the Geneva Open. But before the ATP 250 event in the Swiss capital, the 24-time Grand Slam champion registered three consecutive defeats twice- before and after the Miami Open (where he lost to Jakub Mensik in the final).

It happens to all athletes. You can’t avoid it. The competitors are younger and want to make a name for themselves, like Sinner and Alcaraz. They want to use you as a springboard. For them, beating Novak and being able to say to their kids, ‘I beat Djokovic at Wimbledon,’ is huge!

Djokovic lost to Sinner for the fourth consecutive time and trails 4-5 in the head-to-head matchups. Against the five-time Grand Slam champion, however, Djokovic improved his head-to-head record to 5-3 after beating him in this year’s Australian Open quarterfinals.

After beating Djokovic, Alcaraz secured a thrilling five-set win over Sinner, defending his title and becoming a five-time Grand Slam champion. Alcaraz came from two sets down to win the title and also saved three championship points.

Rennae Stubbs thinks Novak Djokovic will retire after next year’s Australian Open

Novak Djokovic declared that he perhaps had played his last match at Roland Garros after his exit. Before leaving Court Philippe-Chatrier, an emotional Djokovic acknowledged the fans’ cheers and kissed the clay.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (via X/The Tennis Letter)

After his Australian Open defeat as well, Djokovic dropped the retirement hint. Serena Williams‘ former coach Rennae Stubbs made a bold prediction about when the 38-year-old would hang up his racket.

Even though I wanted him to stay in tennis because of his matches against Sinner and Alcaraz, I think this is the last time we’ll see him at Roland Garros. He was actually strange in the press conference… However, he has a great chance at Wimbledon and I really believe in it. I think he could say goodbye to tennis in Australia, where he was champion most of the time.

Rennae Stubbs said (H/T: Sportal)

Djokovic will be chasing his eighth at Wimbledon which starts on June 30th. The Geneva Open title was his first of the season and his first since the 2024 Paris Olympics which he won by beating Carlos Alcaraz.

If he wins Wimbledon, he will equal Roger Federer‘s tally of eight titles. In 2023, Alcaraz denied him the Calendar Grand Slam by securing a five-set victory. Djokovic hasn’t yet tasted success in Majors since the 2023 US Open.

If Djokovic hadn’t reached the semifinal in Paris, he would have dropped out of the top 5. He currently occupies the fifth spot on the rankings table and above him sit, Jack Draper, Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Picks Roger Federer and Serena Williams as His GOATs of Tennis