Novak Djokovic, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, cheekily rebuffed Carlos Alcaraz’s comments about feeling “privileged” to compete against him, sparking a lighthearted moment of banter ahead of their potential Wimbledon 2025 final showdown. The exchange, reported by *Daily Record* on June 28, 2025, occurred during pre-tournament media duties at the All England Club. Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, said, “I’m privileged to play with a seven-time champion here, it’s crazy what he has done,” referencing Djokovic’s storied career. Djokovic, with a mischievous grin, shot back, “He said he was privileged to play this year because of me, because I was defending champion, but that was a big lie,” per *Daily Record*. The Serb clarified he wasn’t buying Alcaraz’s “fawning” remarks, adding, “I’m privileged to still be here competing with the young guys,” per *Express.co.uk* (@DExpress_Sport, July 11, 2025).[
Despite the playful jab, the interaction underscored their mutual respect, forged through a fierce rivalry where Alcaraz leads 3-2 in Grand Slam meetings, including Wimbledon final victories in 2023 (1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4) and 2024 (6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4)), per *ATP Tour*. Alcaraz, 22, has praised Djokovic’s tennis acumen, calling him “the smartest on court” but admitted they avoid discussing tactics off-court, preferring life conversations, per *tennis365.com*. Djokovic, 38, acknowledged Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as the “dominant force” in tennis, per *The Guardian*, yet remains a formidable contender, reaching the Wimbledon 2025 semi-finals against Sinner despite a concerning fall in his 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win over Flavio Cobolli, per *The Independent*.
Fans on X, like @cestlaviemacher, noted Djokovic’s comments were contextual, emphasizing his challenge of facing both Alcaraz and Sinner to win titles at his age, per (@cestlaviemacher, July 10, 2025). As Alcaraz faces Taylor Fritz and Djokovic battles Sinner on July 11, their rivalry could culminate in a third straight Wimbledon final, per *tennisuptodate.com*.
