Novak Djokovic has been quick to credit Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner for their recent dominance but he also believes that they must show some respect to the legends of the game
Novak Djokovic believes that the recent rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner does not compare to the era once dominated by himself, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. In recent years , the 24-time Grand Slam winner has found himself in an unusual situation – taking a backseat to Alcaraz and Sinner, who have claimed nine of the past 10 major titles between them.
Although Djokovic was quick to acknowledge the young pair for elevating the standard and distinguishing themselves from the current field, he stressed that their streak of victories is not without precedent. At a recent press conference, a reporter began by asking the Serbian: “You said that Sinner and Alcaraz raised tennis to a new level.”
Djokovic, however, interrupted to clarify firmly. “I didn’t say that,” he replied. “I said that those two play level above others currently.
“[You] have to show some respect to us. There has to be some respect for Roger, Rafa, Andy and me. That’s the level of tennis we want. Those two are level above others.”
From 2003 to 2023, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray set a new standard for Grand Slam excellence. The quartet amassed titles with remarkable consistency, controlled the ATP rankings and shaped men’s tennis over two decades.
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Djokovic holds the record for the most Grand Slam titles at 24, followed by Nadal with 22 and Federer with 20. By contrast, only two other men have reached double-digit major totals: Pete Sampras with 14 and Bjorn Borg with 11. Murray, while winning just three Slams, maintained impressive consistency, reaching 11 finals and 21 semi-finals during his career.
Alcaraz and Sinner are already creating their own period of prominence. They have not only won nine of the last 10 majors, but also faced off in the last three Grand Slam finals.
Alcaraz, who has six majors, defeated Sinner at both the US Open and French Open, while the Italian, a four-time Slam champion, overcame the Spaniard at Wimbledon and also took the Australian Open earlier this year.
If they keep winning at this pace, Alcaraz and Sinner could eventually challenge Djokovic’s all-time record. Still, as the Serbian previously noted, sustaining such consistent dominance is far easier said than done.
Djokovic is just one Grand Slam away from surpassing Margaret Court as tennis’ most successful player. Yet, the pursuit of a 25th title has proven to be a tough endeavour.
At 38, Djokovic is dealing with the physical wear from a long career, with recent injuries indicating his body may struggle with the intensity of top-level competition. He has also gone two years without a major – his longest drought since 2010 – and has not reached a final this year, falling in the semi-finals each time.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz and Sinner continue to advance with no signs of slowing, making that 25th title harder to attain. But if there is one thing Djokovic has shown repeatedly over the years, it is that he should never be underestimated.
