WATCH: Emotional Novak Djokovic still able to crack a joke after Wimbledon heartbreak

Shahida Jacobs
Novak Djokovic loses at Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic weeps at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic doesn’t often get emotional after a defeat, but there was a crack in his voice and tears were rolling down his face following his loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.

It was a side of Djokovic that tennis fans don’t often see, but on Sunday he let it all out during the post-match trophy presentation after the epic match on Centre Court.

In what many believe signals the passing of the baton in men’s tennis, 20-year-old Alcaraz secured a 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win in four hours and 42 minutes against a man who hadn’t lost at Wimbledon since 2017.

With the win, Alcaraz also ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a Calendar Grand Slam while he also denied him the chance of drawing level with Roger Federer on eight Wimbledon titles. It also means Djokovic remains only one Slam ahead of Rafael Nadal in the race for most majors.

And while the plaudits will rightly go to Alcaraz for doing what many thought was impossible, Djokovic delivered one of his classiest post-match speeches.

“Good afternoon to everyone – not so good for me but good for Carlos. I have to start with praises to Carlos and his team. What a quality at the end of the match when you had to serve it out. You can up with some big plays in the big situation and you absolutely deserve it. Amazing,” he said.

“I thought I would have trouble with you only on clay and hard court, but not on grass but now it’s a different story from this year obviously. Congrats, amazing way to adapt to the surface. You played maybe one or twice. Amazing, what you did in Queens and congratulations to everybody in your team.”

And then came the reference to his 2019 epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer when he won after saving two match points.

The Serbian continued: “As for me, you never like to lose matches like these but I guess when all the emotions are settled I’ll have to be very grateful. I won many tight and close matches in the past here, to name a few. 2019 against Roger. Maybe I should have lost a few finals that I won so maybe this is even steven.”

The tears soon started to follow as he was asked about 2023 still being a positive year following his Australian Open and French Open titles.

“I will be tomorrow morning probably but today not so much. Tough one to swallow when you are so close. There are the moment that we work for every day to play on the biggest stages and biggest courts and most important tournaments in the world,” he said.

“I’ve been blessed with so many incredible matches throughout my career. I’m really grateful. I lost to a better player and I have to move on stronger.

And by the time he spoke to his team, he could barely get a word out as he was overcome by emotion.

“It’s nice to see my son still there, still smiling. I love you, thank you for supporting me and we can all have a big hug, and love each other. Thank you,” he concluded.

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