"The more important the tournament I lose, the more media coverage there will be" - Novak Djokovic bemoans intense scrutiny after Wimbledon final loss

Novak Djokovic recently opened up about the heightened scrutiny he faced following his defeat in the 2024 Wimbledon Championships final. He lamented that increased media attention accompanies his losses in "important tournaments" such as the Grand Slams.

This season has not been favorable for Djokovic, as he has yet to secure a title or defeat a top-10 player. He recently competed at Wimbledon where he was the second seed and began his campaign by defeating Vit Kopriva in the first round and Jacob Fearnley in the second. He then beat Alexei Popyrin and Holger Rune in the third and fourth rounds, respectively.

The Serb then advanced to the semifinals, after his quarterfinal opponent Alex de Minaur withdrew due to a hip injury. He then secured his spot in the final by triumphing over Lorenzo Musetti in the final four.

However, in the summit clash, Novak Djokovic, who was aiming for his first title of the season, the eighth Wimbledon title of his career, and his 25th Grand Slam title overall, lost to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 2-6, 2-6, 6-7(4).

Following his loss to Alcaraz, the 24-time Grand Slam champion talked to the press about the intense media scrutiny and critical headlines that often accompany his defeat in a major tournament. He expressed that such scrutiny has been a common occurrence in his career, as some do not like him being among the best and appreciate his success.

"It's only natural that people are talking about these things now, it seems like there's always a need for headlines like this and big news. Many people are not happy with me being among the best, so they will be hoping for this change to happen," he said [via Punto de Break].

Novak Djokovic stated that judgment and scrutiny from the media has become a part of his life and he has learned to accept that. He also said that the significance of the tournament where he loses directly correlates with the level of media coverage and scrutiny he receives.

"That's an intrinsic part of my sporting career and I always manage to work, perform and live with it. Obviously, the more important the tournament in which I lose, the more media coverage there will be," he added.

Novak Djokovic on losing Wimbledon 2024 final: "I do feel disappointed, it's a bitter taste"

Novak Djokovic

Following his loss against Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, during the post-match press conference, Novak Djokovic expressed that he was "disappointed" at the loss as he had put in his best effort while preparing for the grasscourt Major.

Djokovic stated that despite the defeat, he viewed his performance at SW19 as a success as he had reached the final and only lost to the tournament's "best player."

“I did all I can to prepare myself for this match and this tournament in general. Of course, I do feel disappointed. It's a bitter taste to lose the finals the way I did today. It has to be a success at the end of the day with me and my team playing Wimbledon finals and losing to the best player of the tournament,” he said.

Novak Djokovic now has 23 wins and seven losses this season. He will next compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The former World No.1 will be making his fifth appearance at the Games and will represent Serbia alongside Dusan Lajovic.