Novak Djokovic has embraced the explosion of younger stars dominating world tennis.
But the nine-time Australian Open champ, who nonetheless gained 5 titles in 2022, together with Wimbledon, regardless of appearances being restricted by various Covid guidelines all over the world, is adamant he and fellow famous person Rafael Nadal can “mess up their plans” for domination.
Djokovic returns to Melbourne Park after final yr’s scandalous deportation as world No.5 with 19-year-old Spanish younger gun Carlos Alcaraz rated the world’s greatest participant and set to be No.1 seed on the Australian Open.
Nadal separates Alcaraz and world No.3 Casper Ruud on the rating and Djokovic declared the expertise of the following crop of gamers meant males’s tennis was “in good hands”.
“I guess we’re going to see lots of Alcaraz and Rune (Denmark’s Rune Holger) in the future. Then Felix (world No.6 Felix Auger Aliassime) I think he’s probably playing the tennis of his life in the last five, six months,” Djokovic mentioned in Adelaide after his opening singles win for 2023.
“Maybe because of Rune and Alcaraz, people don’t talk maybe as much about Felix because he’s been around a bit longer, but I think he deserves to be right there in the conversation right at the top with these guys, and (Lorenzo) Musetti, as well, you mentioned, someone that is putting his game together, I think is gaining more confidence and improving.
“I think for these guys, it’s only upwards in terms of direction and what they can do in this sport. They have really good personalities. I have a good relationship with all of them.
“I think it’s nice for tennis because we need — other than great tennis players, we also need good personalities, good characters, guys that know the game, respect the game, carry also the weight of the top players in this sport in a proper manner because they are ambassadors of our sport.
“Yeah, it seems like men’s tennis is in good hands for the future.”
But even at 35, Djokovic is adamant his time shouldn’t be accomplished and the world doesn’t belong to the following technology simply but.
“What Alcaraz has done last season has been extremely impressive and historic for our sport, so he deserves praise, no doubt,” he mentioned.
“He’s already now — he’s No. 1 in the world. There’s no higher peak to climb than that one, and already won a Slam, and he’s still so young.
“I feel like every generation has some great talents to offer.
“I’m sure that Nadal and myself will try to mess up their plans a little bit for I don’t know how long, but we’ll try.”
