Novak Djokovic reveals how facing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz offers unique challenge in bid for 25th Grand Slam - 'They remind me of myself'

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Novak Djokovic has revealed that competing against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner carries a unique emotional challenge, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitting the younger stars remind him of the player he was at the height of his own career.

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Djokovic made the comments while appearing alongside NBA superstar LeBron James on the popular show 'The Shop' at Fanatics Fest in New York, where he reflected on the changing landscape of men’s tennis and the motivation required to continue competing against the sport's leading young talents.

The Serbian, who spent years battling Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in one of tennis' greatest rivalries, explained that those contests were defined by "contrasting styles", with each member of the celebrated trio boasting specific skill-sets on court.

"I want to kick their a** every day of the week," Djokovic said. "But to be honest, when I see them play, there's contrasting styles with Federer and Nadal, really contrasting styles.

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"I showed up as well, different. Three of us, we were all different."

At 39, Djokovic remains locked in competition with Alcaraz and Sinner, who have emerged as the leading lights in tennis' modern era.

While the rise of the pair represents a challenge to his pursuit of further success - he is searching for what would be a record 25th Grand Slam title - the veteran champion views their presence as a source of motivation, and a reminder of the standards that helped define his own remarkable career.

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However, he admitted facing Alcaraz and Sinner presents a different kind of obstacle due to the similarities he sees between their approach and his own during his heyday.

"And now with Alcaraz and Sinner being the dominant force in tennis, these two guys remind me of myself so much," Djokovic continued.

"I'm like: 'I'm playing myself from 10 years ago and 15 years ago' and it kind of hurts me to feel that on the court. I mean, I know how to crack the code, but can I?"

Djokovic has suggested he intends to return to Wimbledon in 2027 after admitting he was outplayed by Sinner in a straight-sets semi-final defeat at the All England Club earlier this month.

Despite the struggles that come with confronting a new generation which has taken control of the sport, the world No. 7 stressed that elite rivalries remain essential to maintaining his hunger and pushing himself to improve.

"So, it's always finding new ways to motivate yourself, to inspire yourself to be better and the rivalries are good," he said.

"They're important. So you got to always find someone in the crowd or someone on the court that is going to push you to be better."

Alcaraz will remain sidelined for the Canadian Open as he continues his recovery from the wrist injury that has kept him out of competition since April.

Meanwhile, Djokovic and Sinner are set to return at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal.

During their time away from the court, Alcaraz and Djokovic were among the high-profile guests at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where the Spaniard joined the celebrations after his compatriots defeated Argentina to claim the prestigious trophy.

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