Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending Wimbledon champion and World No. 2, shared his excitement about practicing with Novak Djokovic on Centre Court on June 26, 2025, calling it a “privilege” and a “unique moment” ahead of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, starting June 30. In a post-session interview with *Wimbledon’s YouTube channel*, Alcaraz said, “It’s always special to step on Centre Court, but to share it with Novak, one of the greatest, makes it even more special. We had fun, pushed each other, and it’s great prep.” The 45-minute practice set, which ended in a 5-5 draw without service breaks, saw both players exchanging crisp rallies under a closed roof due to light rain, per *ATP Tour*.[](https://www.atptour.com/en/news/djokovic-alcaraz-practise-wimbledon-2025-thursday)
The session, a rematch of their 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals—both won by Alcaraz—had a relaxed yet competitive vibe, with Alcaraz hitting a highlight-reel one-handed backhand passing shot, prompting a playful apology for its “luck,” per *Eurosport*. Djokovic, the seven-time champion, chose Alcaraz as his sparring partner, joking, “He’s the defending champion, I’m just the sparring partner,” per @travel__Sports. Alcaraz appreciated the gesture, noting, “It’s an honor he picked me. We both know what it takes to win here,” per *The Tennis Gazette*. Their practice drew attention, with @TennisONEApp sharing a clip of Alcaraz’s standout shot, captioned as a “highlight reel” moment.[](https://www.eurosport.es/tenis/wimbledon/2025/carlos-alcaraz-novak-djokovic-entrenamiento-centre-court-resultado-set-empate_sto23195962/story.shtml)[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/news/how-novak-djokovic-fared-in-his-practice-match-with-carlos-alcaraz-on-centre-court-at-wimbledon/)
Alcaraz, riding an 18-match winning streak after defending his French Open and Queen’s Club titles, acknowledged Djokovic’s challenge despite his own 3-5 head-to-head deficit, including a 2024 Olympic final loss, per *ProFootballNetwork.com*. He reflected on their rivalry, saying, “Every time we play, it’s intense. This practice felt like a final,” per *Puntodebreak.com*. As Alcaraz aims for a third straight Wimbledon title and Djokovic chases a record-tying eighth, their Centre Court session set the tone for a potential blockbuster rematch.
