LATE into the fourth set in his quarter-final against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, the 25th Grand Slam dream looked all but over for Novak Djokovic. An awkward fall sent him into a grimace as the crowd and his opponent feared for the worst. On the cusp of winning that match, Djokovic gathered himself and completed the victory to enter another semi-final. That grimace on Djokovic’s face was a sign of what the tired body of a 38-year-old would be dealing with against his new-found nemesis Janik Sinner. The effects were pronounced. Djokovic was out in straight sets. Will the Centre Court see him again? Was it the last hurrah for the fantastic champion? The big question hangs again. The Serbian is the last man standing from the tremendous trio who ruled the tennis circuit and people’s hearts for over a decade. Tennis revolved around the three -- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic -- as they brought immeasurable excitement on all kinds of surfaces.

 

Djokovic was a late entrant to the exclusive club but made his mark soon. His antics were lapped up with his game by the eager fans. The triumvirate formed the synonym of great tennis even as a few dogged fighters tried their best and soon left the challenge. At the haloed Wimbledon, Djokovic was the carrier of that legacy. He did not succeed. But has he failed? Like the French Open, this year’s Wimbledon was again a season of hope for tennis fans who want their champion to go on a high. Even at 38, Djokovic still has the craft and heart to take on the best. The forehand winners against Cobolli oozed class as the wily drops showed the ticking of a wise mind. Till the twist came in the form of the awkward fall, Djokovic was the old self.

 

One twist, and it changed the course for the semis. Deep inside, his die-hard fans also knew it would be an uphill battle for Djokovic against the Sinner. It was a battle of a weary body housing a gritty heart against a young and energetic claimant. And this is set to be the course of the script in the future, till Djokovic takes his final call. Djokovic also knows the hard truth. He tried to convey his difficulties after the loss to Sinner as he refused to throw the towel yet. He knows the challengers of yesterday have matured into seasoned campaigners on the circuit. Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner have marked their place in the Grand Slams.

 

The court surface does not matter anymore for them. There are no Kings of Clays or GOATs of Grass. Both Alcaraz and Sinner have prepped themselves for all comers. For Djokovic it's not only a challenge of fighting the youthful energy of two bubbling young men, it is about keeping his body in shape and passion at peak to take on them at the business end of a tournament. That is a huge task for the ageing muscles, battered by constant wear and tear. Djokovic will never complain about his injuries but he will keep feeling the pressure of avoiding it.... till one last bow on a high.