Even after another semifinal defeat, Novak Djokovic remains determined to pursue a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. Despite a recent loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the U.S. Open semifinals, Djokovic has declared that he has no plans to retire from Grand Slam competition.

During his U.S. Open semifinal match against Alcaraz, there was a moment where Djokovic seemed capable of turning the tide. Early in the second set, he demonstrated the exceptional skill that has led him to 24 Grand Slam titles, more weeks at No. 1 than any other player, and numerous other achievements. He managed to break Alcaraz's serve, taking a 2-0 lead in the set, prompting enthusiastic reactions from the crowd. However, Alcaraz quickly regained control, ultimately winning the match 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Djokovic acknowledged that he "ran out of gas" after the second set, struggling to maintain the pace against his younger opponent. He admitted that competing against the top young players in best-of-five-set matches in the later stages of major tournaments is becoming increasingly challenging with age, describing it as frustrating but not surprising.

This U.S. Open marked Djokovic's fourth major semifinal appearance of the season, with each ending at the same stage. Three of these defeats were against top-ranked players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The other was when Djokovic had to retire against Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open in January due to an injured hamstring.

Despite these setbacks, Djokovic remains motivated and is not giving up on his Grand Slam ambitions. "I'm going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy, at least," he affirmed. He aims to become the first player in tennis history to win 25 major singles titles. However, he recognizes the difficulty of the task ahead.

In the U.S. Open match, Alcaraz overpowered Djokovic with aggressive hitting, maintaining control for most of the match. Djokovic struggled with his first serve consistency, winning only 65% of points on his first delivery. Alcaraz showcased resilience, especially in the second set, where he rallied from 0-3 to gain a crucial lead.

Djokovic's last Grand Slam victory was at the U.S. Open in 2023, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final. Since then, he has only surpassed the semi-finals once in six majors, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final for the second consecutive year.

While acknowledging the challenges posed by younger rivals and the physical demands of the sport, Djokovic's determination to pursue a 25th Grand Slam title remains unwavering.