“When he loses, he loses with a smile” – Novak Djokovic names the youngster who has the same charisma he, Federer & Nadal had
Novak Djokovic Identifies the Next-Gen Star with Federer and Nadal’s Charisma
Novak Djokovic recently shared his thoughts on which rising ATP player possesses the same charisma as himself, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. He singled out Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz but gave Alcaraz the edge, praising his maturity and impressive achievements at such a young age.
Djokovic is currently recovering from his Australian Open disappointment and the hamstring injury that forced him to retire in the semifinals against Alexander Zverev. His bid for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title was put on hold, but after undergoing treatment in Belgrade, he is set to return to action at the Qatar Open from February 17 to 22. Ahead of the tournament, he spoke with Montenegrin daily Vijesti, touching on various topics.
When asked about young players with the same level of charisma as the “Big Three,” Djokovic responded:
“We have [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner, who are developing a new rivalry. [Rafael] Nadal, [Roger] Federer, and I—along with [Andy] Murray, who deserves mention—have dominated men’s tennis for the past 15-20 years, setting a high standard,” he said.
“Not just in terms of results, but also in how a champion and World No. 1 should carry himself—representing the sport, fulfilling the ambassadorial role, and leading the game,” he added.
Djokovic highlighted Alcaraz as a standout, not just for his talent and achievements but also for his sportsmanship and character.
“When we talk about charisma, Alcaraz stands out. His exceptional performances and results at such a young age are impressive, but he also carries himself with grace. He’s fair, kind to everyone, and even in defeat, he smiles. For someone so young, he behaves as if he’s been on tour for a decade.”
Djokovic Credits Alcaraz’s Success to Coach Juan Carlos Ferrero
In the same interview, Djokovic credited Alcaraz’s strong character and success to his environment and longtime coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero.
“I believe his proper upbringing and the influence of his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, play a huge role,” Djokovic said.
“Ferrero, a former No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, instilled in him not just championship-level skills and resilience but also the core values of sportsmanship. These principles should be passed down and serve as a guiding light for younger generations aspiring to achieve their goals in tennis,” he added.
Djokovic and Alcaraz are no strangers to competition. The Serbian recently defeated the Spaniard at the Australian Open on his way to the semifinals. Their head-to-head record currently stands at 5-3 in Djokovic’s favor. With both players set to compete in Doha, a potential showdown could be on the horizon, depending on the draw.
