This was not the end for Novak Djokovic. But it could be the beginning of the end. Who knows, maybe he is further along in the process than that. Not even he knows how far.

The man who once dominated Centre Court, the one who had made a habit of reaching Grand Slam semi-finals and then going on to reach the final, was comprehensively beaten 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 by Jannik Sinner. It took less than two hours.

For the second time this year, he was compromised by injury at the semi-final stage of one of the tournaments he holds most dear. At the Australian Open, it was a hamstring tear that forced him to retire against Alexander Zverev. Now it was a hip and thigh issue that hampered him as Sinner eased past him.

The seven-time former champion was honest as he faced the media. It was suggested that he had been “unfortunate” in Australia and here. He was having none of that.

“I don't think it's bad fortune,” he said. “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 yeah, 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 [Carlos] Alcaraz.

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

That said, Djokovic was not in the mood for excuses. He had been beaten, fair and square, by a man 15 years his junior. By the best player in the world. And even if he had found a way to win, he would have to face Carlos Alcaraz – who is 16 years his junior – in the final.

“I don't want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best,” he said, firmly. “I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That's it. He's in the finals. He was too strong.

“It is what it is, you know? It's one of these things I accept and embrace in some way, deal with the reality the way it is, and try to make the most out of it, I guess.”

He was not long off the match court and he was still digesting the events of the afternoon. He had no idea what his immediate plans were but he knew he had a complicated problem to solve.

“Regardless of the fact that I haven't won a Grand Slam this year, or last year,” he said. “I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams. Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most.

“I'm just trying to make, I guess, the maximum out of what I have left. Again, I just got off the court, so of course, I'm upset and disappointed, mostly not for the loss, because obviously even if I was fit, I wasn't a favourite to win against Sinner, I know that, but I think I had good chances if I was fit.

“But it's just that physical aspect that is bothering me. You're there. You want to play. You're determined. But then the body doesn't want to listen. That's it.

“I probably have to revisit everything and see with my team, with my family, how I want to proceed with my schedule and where I want to peak and how I want to train.”

Then came the inevitable question: would he be sad if that was his last match on Centre Court?

“I would be sad, but hopefully it's not my last match on the Centre Court,” he said. “I'm not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. So I'm planning to come back definitely at least one more time, play on the Centre Court for sure.”

He will be back, and who knows whether there are more days of winning ahead of him here?

But Centre Court belongs to Carlos Alcaraz at the moment – and Sinner is the only man who can take it from him.