Djokovic Wants to Be Like Messi: "I Wish I Only Had to Play 90 Minutes Like Him!..."

Novak Djokovic delivered an epic performance in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, overcoming Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in a grueling 5-hour, 15-minute battle—the longest quarterfinal match in the tournament's history. The 39-year-old Serb triumphed with a scoreline of 7-6(10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(4), and 7-6(4).

On the same Tuesday, another sporting legend, Lionel Messi, also 39, led Argentina to victory over Egypt in the 2026 World Cup. The longevity and passion displayed by both athletes, who continue to compete at the highest level, consistently defy expectations.

In the post-match press conference, Djokovic was asked about his remarkable ability to defeat an opponent 14 years his junior in such an exhausting encounter, and also about Messi's impressive display as another seasoned athlete.

Nole smiled and responded with a touch of British humor, fitting for Wimbledon: "I wish I only had to play 90 minutes like him!"

Regarding his victory, the Serb was candid about the challenges he faced. "I won this match with a racket and a lot of heart. I had to manage my nerves and deal with the extreme tension you feel in these types of matches," he confessed. "Towards the end, the match could have gone either way. I think the score was balanced from start to finish, which is a realistic representation of today's game. In the super tie-break, truly anyone could have won."

Djokovic emphasized that these moments are what motivate him to continue competing. "Moments like this are definitely what keep me playing tennis. I wish it were the final so I wouldn't have to worry about how my body will feel tomorrow, but yes, I'm happy to have won. It certainly holds greater meaning [when I win like this]," he stated.

The tennis star also shared a personal note about his family. "I told my kids to go to sleep after the fourth set, but they didn't listen. I'm glad they stayed, because it was honestly one of the best matches I've played on this court in my career."

With this victory, Djokovic advanced to his 15th Wimbledon semifinal and his 55th Grand Slam semifinal. However, the Serb remained focused on recovery and his upcoming challenge against Jannik Sinner. "The numbers are great, but for me, it's just another semifinal. I'll look at all the numbers and everything else when my career is over. Right now, it's just work. I still have to recover, I'm still in the tournament, and I have to face the best player in the world in a few days," he explained, referring to Friday's match.