Novak Djokovic expresses disappointment over pursuing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic Defends His Legacy Amid Rising Stars

Novak Djokovic just had a fortunate win at the Australian Open, but he isn’t ready to concede anything during his press conference.

Visibly frustrated, the Serbian player reacted to a reporter’s question about what it’s like to “chase” Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at a Grand Slam, referencing a similar phase he endured with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal earlier in his career.

Djokovic quickly challenged the premise of the question, emphasizing his legacy. “Am I following Sinner and Alcaraz? In what sense? So, I’ve always been the one chasing, and I’ve never been chased?” he responded.

The journalist noted that perhaps it would have been appropriate to mention Djokovic’s record 24 Grand Slam victories, yet this seemed to provide little comfort to the 38-year-old champion.

“I think it’s a bit rude to overlook the years I spent ‘chasing’ Rafa and Roger compared to now with Carlos and Jannik,” Djokovic remarked. “There’s probably a good 15-year span of me winning Grand Slams that should be acknowledged.”

Continuing, he stated, “To be honest, I don’t feel like I’m chasing them. Roger and Rafa have always been my biggest rivals. I have a lot of respect for what Jannik and Carlos are achieving, and honestly, they could be around for another decade or more.”

Last year, Djokovic reached the semi-finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments and he’s back in the running this year at the Australian Open. However, his last few Grand Slam outings in 2025 ended in losses to either Sinner or Alcaraz.

Djokovic is set to face Sinner in the semi-finals, while Alcaraz will compete against Alex Zverev.

Interestingly, Djokovic had a bit of luck getting this far.

He advanced past Jakub Mencik in the fourth round by default, but found himself dropping the first two sets to Lorenzo Musetti before the fifth-seeded Italian withdrew due to a foot injury.

“I genuinely feel sorry for him,” Djokovic commented after the match. “He was definitely the stronger player today. I was on my way to losing. This kind of thing happens in sports—I’ve experienced it myself a few times… I wish him well and he deserved to win.”

Some might exaggerate Djokovic’s 15-year dominance. For years, he, Federer, and Nadal exchanged Grand Slam titles and the No. 1 ranking until Djokovic eventually became the clear top player.