When will Novak Djokovic return to action after defeat at Wimbledon 2026?

Djokovic succumbed to a straight-sets defeat in the Wimbledon semi-finals against Jannik Sinner.

Novak Djokovic’s bid for an eighth Wimbledon title came to an unfortunate end on July 10 when Jannik Sinner dismantled him 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals.

However, the 39-year-old Serbian won’t be too disappointed with how his fortnight at SW19 unfolded as he overcame a tough draw to reach the final four, matching his performance from last year.

The match against the Italian lasted just two hours and 30 minutes, and it became only the third completed match of Djokovic’s Grand Slam career in which he failed to break serve. It was, by his own admission, a “good old blowout.” He said he didn’t think there was much he could have done differently and was just “a half a step late” for almost every shot.

A big factor behind the Serbian’s disappointing performance was his hard-fought win in the quarter-final against third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The contest was the longest quarter-final in Wimbledon history, lasting 5 hours and 15 minutes. The fact that he can battle it out for that long against a player nearly 15 years younger than him shows Djokovic’s sensational endurance and longevity.

When will Novak Djokovic return to tennis action?

Novak Djokovic is currently on the entry list for the National Bank Open in Montreal, where he is expected to use the Masters 1000 event as a warm-up for the US Open in late August.

Should he compete in Montreal, it would be his first appearance at the event since 2018. The 39-year-old last won a title here in 2016, and has skipped the event in recent years primarily to manage workload. It will be his first hard court match since the Indian Wells Open earlier in the year, where he lost to Jack Draper in the Round of 16.

Despite featuring in the entry list, a late withdrawal cannot be ruled out. However, the Serbian player will also be mindful of his low ranking and needs to secure ranking points before the US Open to avoid facing Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz (if he returns) before the semi-finals.

According to the schedule, Djokovic’s North American hard-court swing will continue at the Cincinnati Masters from August 13 to 23, before the final major of the season, the US Open, beginning on August 31 in New York.

The US Open holds particular significance as it is where Djokovic won his record-breaking 24th Grand Slam title, back in 2023.

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