Djokovic and his unfulfilled dream of 875 days.

(NLĐO) - Djokovic's quest for his 25th Grand Slam title remains unfinished, and he believes today's final felt like a 2-on-1 match with Nadal in attendance.

It has been 875 days since Novak Djokovic's last Grand Slam title at the US Open. Since his 24th Grand Slam victory in 2023, the next major trophy has eluded him. Two younger players, successors to Sinner and Alcaraz, have successively defeated him in the finals of the 2024 Australian Open and Wimbledon.

A long enough period of time has led many fans to wonder: why does the Serbian player continue to compete, still persevering at over 38 years old? The answer lies in the finals this afternoon, where the Serbian legend always believes he can still win.

The 2026 Australian Open final presents an ideal opportunity for Djokovic. The Serbian player has been experiencing a series of favorable circumstances, foreshadowed by Mensik's withdrawal in the fourth round, and Musetti's retirement in the quarterfinals despite leading in two sets. His path to the final has become easier than usual, as if luck is on the side of the 24-time major champion.

In the decisive match, his familiar composure helped him win the first set and bring the match to a close contest. Djokovic leveled the score at 4-4 in the fourth set, rekindling hopes of a comeback amidst thunderous applause at Rod Laver Arena.

But time was not on his side. Faced with the youth and explosiveness of Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic gradually ran out of steam at crucial moments and accepted defeat 1-3 (2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5).

After the final, Djokovic expressed: "I want to say a few words to the legend Rafa (Nadal) who is sitting in the stands. It's really strange to see him there instead of on the court. I just want to say that sharing the court with him and now having him watching the final is a great honor for me… this is the first time. Obviously it feels a little strange, but thank you for being here."

Too many Spanish legends. Tonight it was like 2 against 1. It wasn't fair at all, but oh well."

With the 2026 Australian Open final coming to an end, another major final has passed, leaving Djokovic with regrets after his losses to Sinner and Alcaraz in the last two years.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/djokovic-va-giac-mo-dang-do-875-ngay-196260201201322381.htm