Yannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have arrived, but Novak Djokovic says ‘I won’t wave the white flag’ | ATP Tour

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Sinner and Alcaraz have arrived, but Djokovic says ‘I won’t wave the white flag’

Serbian comments on tennis’s new power struggle as Melbourne fights for 11th title

January 28, 2026

Novak Djokovic has never been one to downplay his ambitions, and even at age 38, he has no plans to start playing now.

Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire two sets ahead on Wednesday as the Serbian reached the Australian Open semi-finals for the 13th time. Standing between Djokovic and a record 11th title at Melbourne Park is the sport’s new power struggle.

The top two players in the PIF ATP rankings, Carlos Alcaraz and Yannik Sinner, share the past eight Grand Slam titles, and Djokovic may need to beat both to lift the trophy again. Yet while Djokovic acknowledges the momentum of the sport’s latest rivalry, his mind still wanders to the battles that defined an era.

“Roger and Rafa will always be my biggest rivals,” said Djokovic, who has a record against Federer and Nadal. “I have a lot of respect for what Jannik and Carlos are doing and what they’re going to do in the next 10 to 15, 20 years… God knows how many years they’re going to play, they’re so young.

“It’s the natural cycle of sports. You’re going to have two other superstars [and] Maybe there’s another third guy – and I’ll be cheering for him – because I’ve been the third guy from the beginning. But it’s good for our sport. I think that competition and contrast of personalities and playing styles is very good for the sport of tennis. “

The numbers underline the extent of Djokovic’s presence. In 2025, he reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments, bowing out against Alexander Zverev in Melbourne, losing to Sinner in straight sets at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and losing to Alcaraz at the U.S. Open.

While the results suggest a new generation has taken over, Djokovic denies he is chasing someone else’s legacy.

“How about it [their rivalry] Affect me? Like I said, I don’t feel like I’m chasing. I’m making my own history,” Djokovic said. “I’ve been very clear when I say my intention is always achievements, goals and results. I want to be in the championship game in every tournament, especially the majors. The Grand Slams are one of the biggest reasons why I continue to compete and play tennis.

“Are they better than me and everyone else right now? Yes, they are. The quality and level is amazing. It’s fantastic. It’s phenomenal. But does that mean I’m going to go out with a white flag? No. I’m going to fight to the last shot, to the last bit and challenge them to the best of my ability.”

With a first-round victory over Pedro Martinez, he became the first player to reach 100 wins in three different Grand Slam tournaments. Now he is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, which would put him above Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list.

The fourth-round match after Jakub Mencic’s withdrawal gave Djokovic extra recovery time, raising questions about his fitness as he awaits two-time defending champion Sinner or Ben Shelton in Friday’s semifinals. When asked how he was doing physically, Djokovic responded simply.

“I had blisters that needed to be checked and re-bandaged,” Djokovic said. “That’s what I did last game and what I’m doing now. That’s my biggest concern, to be honest. I don’t have any other major concerns.

“You’re always going to have little issues with your body, at least for me. But big issues? None. Thankfully, it’s still not a challenge for me and a hindrance to me being able to play and move the way I want to.”