Novak Djokovic Snaps at 'Disrespectful' Sinner-Alcaraz Question

Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic is just two wins away from capturing his record-breaking 25th major at the 2026 Australian Open, but he’d have to overcome Jannik Sinner in the semifinal and possibly Carlos Alcaraz in the final — two players he has struggled to beat at Grand Slam events in recent years.

As widely documented, Djokovic has lost five consecutive matches to Sinner, including back-to-back semifinal losses to the Italian at last year’s Wimbledon and Roland Garros. He has fared better against Alcaraz but was defeated by the Spaniard in straight sets in their most recent encounter at last year’s U.S. Open semifinals.

Clearly, the odds are against Djokovic making history at Melbourne Park this weekend.

Novak Djokovic: ‘That’s Disrespectful’

In the lead-up to Friday’s semifinal against Sinner, Djokovic was asked if he was “chasing” the world’s two best players, much as he was on the heels of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the early part of his career. He did not appreciate the question.

“Well, I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between where, the times when I started chasing, as you say, Rafa and Roger, and now that I’m chasing Carlos and Jannik,” the 24-time major winner said, via Tennis365.

“And there’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams. So I think it’s important to put that in prospect and perspective.”

Further to Djokovic’s point, the Serb lost five of his first six matches to Federer in straight sets before dethroning the Swiss legend at the 2008 Australian Open to capture his first major. Ultimately, he finished with a 27-23 overall head-to-head record.

Sinner, Alcaraz Not Rivals?

Similarly, he was 4-14 against Nadal in their first 18 matches, getting obliterated by the Spaniard in straight sets in nearly all their early encounters. The tide began to shift in late 2009 when Djokovic beat him three straight times, and ultimately had his number in 2011-12, when he went on a 7-game winning streak against Nadal, including three consecutive major finals at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.

Reflecting on his battles with Nadal and Federer, Djokovic explained why Sinner and Alcaraz aren’t rivals and never will be — regardless of how many times he loses to them.

“I don’t feel like I’m chasing, to be honest,” he said of Alcaraz and Sinner.

“Roger and Rafa will always be my greatest rivals. I have tremendous respect for what Jannik and Carlos are doing, and they continue to do, and they will do for the next 10 to 15, 20 years. God knows how many years they’re going to play, they’re so young.

“This is a kind of natural cycle in sports,” he continued. “You’re going to have another two superstars that are going to maybe have another third guy that I’m going to cheer for, because I’ve always been the third guy at the beginning. But it’s good for our sport, I think these kind of rivalries, and the contrast of the personalities and the styles of play, are very good for tennis.”

Sinner and Alcaraz have split the last eight majors, dating back to the 2024 Australian Open. Federer and Nadal own the record for the most consecutive majors won by two years, when they split 11 titles between them between 2005 and 2007. As such, Sinner and Alcaraz could be on the cusp of history by the end of 2026.

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