MELBOURNE: On the eve of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic struck a characteristically wry tone while reflecting on how the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has stalled his bid to become the most decorated player in tennis history.
Speaking in Melbourne on Saturday, the 38-year-old admitted with a smile that he had lost three of the four Grand Slam finals in 2025 to either Sinner or Alcaraz, but was quick to downplay the need for excessive praise of the younger generation.
“They have been praised enough,” Djokovic said. “We all know how good they are and they fully deserve their place at the top. Right now, they are the dominant forces in men’s tennis.”
As he embarks on what is effectively his third season chasing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title, Djokovic has adopted a more measured approach to preparation. He opted out of his only scheduled warm-up tournament, acknowledging that he no longer possesses the same physical sharpness late in majors that he once did and must manage his body carefully.
Having previously outmanoeuvred legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to form – and ultimately dominate – the Big Three era, Djokovic now finds himself navigating a new power shift in the sport.
With 24 major titles to his name, a record in the Open Era and level with Margaret Court for the all-time tally, the Serbian remains determined to stay competitive at the very highest level. However, his last Slam triumph came at the 2023 US Open, with Sinner and Alcaraz sharing the spoils of the eight majors since then. Sinner, in particular, arrives in Melbourne as a two-time defending champion, while Alcaraz is chasing the Australian title to complete a career Grand Slam.
Despite injury setbacks last year, including a torn hamstring that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semifinal, Djokovic still reached the last four at all four majors in 2024.
He said he has deliberately removed a “now-or-never” mindset from his game, reminding himself that 24 titles is already an extraordinary achievement.
“Sinner and Alcaraz are playing at a different level right now, that’s undeniable,” Djokovic said. “But that doesn’t mean others don’t have a chance. I always back myself, especially here.”
Seeded fourth, Djokovic opens his campaign on Monday night on Rod Laver Arena against Spain’s Pedro Martinez. He shares the same half of the draw as top seed Alcaraz, meaning a potential meeting could only occur in the semifinals.
Djokovic has not played competitively since November and admitted that recovery now takes longer than in his younger years. While he described dealing with minor aches daily, he said he feels largely ready for battle.