Novak Djokovic's dad let slip his retirement plans with decision made after Wimbledon loss

Novak Djokovic's father revealed his son's tennis retirement plan well before his Wimbledon exit to Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old admitted that age was catching up with him after being crushed in straight sets by the world No.1 in the semi-finals.

Sinner took just an hour and 55 minutes to seal a final meeting with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, with Djokovic taking a medical timeout for treatment to his left thigh after the second set of a 6-3 6-3 6-4 defeat. The Serbian great has reached the last four at each of the grand slams this year but has not made a final. It was the second time he had been physically compromised after he retired injured at the Australian Open. However, Djokovic has quashed any talk of retirement.

He said: "I would be sad [if it was my last] but hopefully it's not my last match on Centre Court. I'm not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. I'm planning to come back, definitely, at least one more time."

While Djokovic is not finished at the pinnacle of the sport, retirement plans have been made, according to his father, Srdjan, who has been urging his son to hang up his racket.

Despite boasting several lavish properties around the world, including in New York, Monaco and Marbella, Novak is planning to settle in his home city of Belgrade. Speaking last year, Srdjan said: "When Novak finishes his tennis career, he will live in his city, Belgrade, his country Serbia.

"I think there is no greater satisfaction, pride and success than your child spreading the glory of his people and his country all over the world."

Speaking earlier this year, Djokovic said: "I don't know if he's going to be happy with me saying this, but my dad has been trying to retire me for a while now. He understands why I keep going, but he's like: 'What else do you want to do?'"

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With his 40th birthday less than two years away, Djokovic has acknowledged he is struggling physically to compete with the likes of Sinner, 23, and Alcaraz, 22. He said: "I don't think it's bad fortune. It's just age, the wear and tear of the body.

"As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest. It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like, when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis.

"I've proven that this year. But I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically.

"The longer the tournament goes, the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reach the semis of every slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz.

"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with the tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that."