MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The most decorated player in men’s tennis history, Novak Djokovic, expressed feeling disrespected after a question challenged his current standing in the sport. The exchange occurred while fielding questions about his highly anticipated semifinal match against defending champion Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion – including a record 10 Australian Open titles – was asked to compare the era when he rose to prominence alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to the present day, where Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner have prevented him from adding to his major tally in the last two seasons.
“I’m chasing Jannik and Carlos?” he responded, questioning the premise. “In which sense?” The question alluded to the perceived “Sincaraz” streak of eight titles. Djokovic retorted, “So I’m always the chaser, and I’m never being chased?” He continued, “I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between… the times when I started chasing, as you say, Rafa and Roger, and now that I’m chasing Carlos and Jannik, and there’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams.”
Djokovic emphasized the importance of perspective, asserting, “I don’t feel like I’m chasing, to be honest. I’m creating my own history.” The Australian Open semifinals feature a compelling lineup: No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz versus No. 3 Alexander Zverev, and No. 2 Jannik Sinner against No. 4 Novak Djokovic. The winners will battle for the championship on Sunday.
Sinner vs. Djokovic: A Clash of Generations
At 38 years old, Djokovic’s sole focus is securing his 25th Grand Slam singles title, a feat that would solidify his position as the most decorated tennis player of all time. While he reached the semifinals of all four majors last year, he didn’t contest a final. He acknowledged feeling “lucky this time” to still be in contention after a challenging quarterfinal match against Lorenzo Musetti, who retired in the third set due to a leg injury.
Sinner, however, is also experiencing a stroke of good fortune. He faced a potential third-round exit against Eliot Spizzirri, battling cramping and struggling before the Extreme Heat Policy was invoked, providing a crucial eight-minute delay that shifted the momentum. Sinner boasts a 19-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, following his dominant 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Ben Shelton. He currently holds a 6-4 head-to-head advantage over Djokovic, including wins in their last five encounters, including pivotal victories at the 2024 Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon.
Sinner reflected on his matches against Djokovic, stating, “It improves you as a player and a person… We’re still lucky to have Novak here playing incredible tennis at his age. I’m lucky to have someone like him in front of my eyes and I can hopefully learn something. I feel like every day, every time he plays, I can learn something about him.”
Alcaraz vs. Zverev: A Battle for History
The 22-year-old Alcaraz aims to become the youngest player to achieve a career Grand Slam – winning all four major titles. His opponent, 28-year-old Alexander Zverev, is seeking his first major trophy after three runner-up finishes, including a controversial Australian Open final last year overshadowed by legal proceedings in Germany. Alcaraz noted that Zverev outperformed him in a recent practice match, displaying “a high level of tennis, high level of intensity.”
“It was impressive the level he’s been playing so far, so it’s going to be a great battle,” Alcaraz said. “I’m excited about playing him here in AO in a semifinal. I know what I have to do. I will be well-prepared and if he wants to beat me, he has to sweat a lot!” Their career head-to-head record stands at 6-6, with two wins apiece at the Slams. Zverev defeated Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarterfinals in 2024, while Alcaraz triumphed over Zverev in the French Open final.
Zverev acknowledged his pursuit of a Grand Slam title, stating, “In my case, I’m still chasing that desired Slam… but I also want to enjoy my tennis. Right now I’m doing that.”
