Djokovic on losing Wimbledon: “It pissed me off so much I needed to win everything in America, which I did”

Novak Djokovic says missing out on an eighth Wimbledon title in the summer made him so annoyed he channelled all his focus into winning everything in the rest of the year.

The 36-year-old, who ended the year ranked world No 1, won his third Grand Slam event of 2023 – and record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in all – at the US Open in September.

In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes which aired on Sunday, Djokovic said the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz, who edged him out in the final in a five-set thriller, had inspired him again.

“You’re right because that pissed me off so much that I needed to win everything on American soil, which I did,” the Serb said, explaining that he had been re-energised by the situation.

Djokovic won Cincinnati, beating Alcaraz in an epic final, and then went on to win the US Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final. He lost just two matches after Wimbledon, both to Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic on young players: “they awaken a beast in me”

Djokovic was generous in his praise for Alcaraz, who has two Grand Slam titles to his name at the age of 20, calling him “as complete a player as I have seen in ages”.

And Djokovic said Alcaraz and the other leading young players, including the likes of Sinner and Holger Rune was keeping him on his toes.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to reinvent myself and really push harder than I ever did. I think the young guys who are very hungry and very inspired to play their best tennis against me is an additional motivation. I think they kind of awaken a beast in me.”

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