At 38, Novak Djokovic went toe-to-toe with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the men’s singles semi-final of the French Open on Friday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion summoned his best on Court Philippe-Chatrier, but it wasn’t enough against Sinner, who delivered a flawless performance on the big stage. Djokovic lost a fiercely contested match in straight sets — 4-6, 5-7, 6-7 (3) after 3 hours and 16 minutes of high-intensity tennis.

Djokovic appeared emotional at the end of the exhausting encounter. Before making his way off the court, the Serb set down his kitbag and waved to the crowd, thanking them for their support. In a poignant gesture, he bent down and touched the Parisian clay, perhaps hinting that this could have been his final match at Roland Garros.

The moment left fans wondering, until Djokovic addressed the gesture in his post-match press conference. The three-time French Open champion admitted he may not return to Paris next year.

“This could have been the last match I ever play here, I don’t know. That’s why it was a bit more emotional at the end,” he said.