By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Friday, January 10, 2025
Photo credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty
Novak Djokovic is an eternal optimist.
The Grand Slam king doesn’t view his major milestones as everlasting records.
Pegula: Swiatek Case Evokes Faith and Frustration
In a new GQ cover story Q&A, 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic cites four-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner as two players with the potential to surpass his major mark.
“People say no one will ever beat my records. But I doubt it,” Djokovic told GQ. “I mean, Carlos could be next. Even Jannik.
“Carlos has done something that no one has done in history at such a young age. So I think he has all the odds. I think he will get over it very soon.”
Reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Alcaraz is aiming to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam by winning this month’s Australian Open.
The 21-year-old Spaniard has beaten the 37-year-old Serbian superstar in successive Wimbledon finals. Djokovic says while he admires Alcaraz’s ambition, it may be premature to “think about history.”
“He himself has said it, he wants to make history,” Djokovic said of Alcaraz. “He wants to be ‘the best in history’. I respect that kind of mentality, like, ‘Hey, I think I have what it takes.’ But maybe it’s a little early to think about history.”
Djokovic delivered a lesson in poise under pressure in his 7-6, 7-6 victory over Alcaraz in the 2024 Paris Olympic gold-medal match then gave the reigning Roland Garros champion an encouraging endorsement.
In his fifth Olympic Games, Djokovic made history as the oldest player to win the Olympic singles gold medal since tennis returned to the Games at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
At net, Djokovic told Alcaraz his gold-medal moment is coming.
“He told me that I will win Olympic gold one day,” Alcaraz told the media in his post-match press conference. “And we are going to work for it. I’m sure my time will come.”
