Novak Djokovic has expressed his belief that many people are “not satisfied” with his continued status as one of the top players in tennis, stating, “they are looking for a new leader.”
The tennis legend acknowledged that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner deserve to be part of the conversation about a potential changing of the guard, but he asserted that other players do not.
Djokovic reached his 10th Wimbledon final at the 2024 edition of the grass-court Grand Slam last week, but was denied a record-equalling eighth title by Alcaraz.
The Serbian suffered a convincing straight-set defeat to Alcaraz, marking his second consecutive loss to the 21-year-old Spaniard in a Wimbledon championship match, following their epic 2023 final.
Some commentators and fans argue that the 2024 final represents a passing of the torch in men’s tennis, with Alcaraz poised to take over from Djokovic and become the next dominant force.
Alcaraz, currently ranked world No. 3, has won four Grand Slam titles and claimed the last two held, including the French Open. Sinner, the world No. 1, secured his maiden Major title at the Australian Open in January.
Djokovic, 37, won his most recent Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, securing a record-extending 24th Major crown.
In an interview with Serbian journalists, Djokovic was asked for his thoughts on the “change of generations” following his defeat to Alcaraz.
“It is logical and normal to talk about it; people are always looking for something new,” he said (translated from Serbian). “Many are not even satisfied that I am still at the top, probably, so they are looking for a new leader. But this is an integral part of my career and the ecosystem in which I work, function, and live.”