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Reuters

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Reuters

The name’s Critchley, Bert Critchley. The famous tennis character’s alter-ego, Novak Djokovic has found himself missing his on-court rival, Roger Federer since his retirement. Years after some of their iconic matches and surpassing achievements, Djokovic has found a new title to go after. And it doesn’t even have to do with tennis.

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If not the racquet sport, many have wanted Federer to play the next version of Agent 007, given his suave looks. The Swiss legend even appeared in an interview with Pierce Brosnan at the 2007 Wimbledon, both in awe of the other. But standing in the way of his James Bond dreams is Novak Djokovic. Or ahem, sorry, Bert Critchley. When asked if he’s ready to give up the tennis character now and take up a spy role next, Critchley says, “Am I? I mean, isn’t it obvious? I don’t know what took them so long but, if that’s the official offer, I’m ready.”

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The interview took place before the Laureus Awards in Spain, where Djokovic won a record 5th Sportsman of the Year title, tying Federer for another title. Suited up in a tuxedo, complete with a bowtie, and his classic close-cropped hair, anyone might mistake the Serbian for spy charming his way up the ranks.

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Reverting to his alter-ego, a character created by the ATP after fan accusations calling the Tour scripted, Critchley says, “I mean, I love my Novak Djokovic character. I think I enjoyed it. We had fun with it, but I probably would love Novak for James Bond. I think it’s time to take my acting career to a different level.”

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This is not the first time that Djokovic has a vested interest in acting. A few months ago, along with Andy Murray and Gael Monfils, the Serbian was involved in The Tour: A Reality Show, a hugely popular adventure. As a result, he looks set to give a mighty challenge to Roger Federer, who gave major hints of being the next James Bond.

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Federer is ready to give Daniel Craig (or Pierce Brosnan if you prefer) a run for this money

Last year, at the Met Gala, Federer turned up in quite a handsome look. He was spotted wearing a black suit on top of a white shirt and also had black goggles that complemented his swashbuckling look. As a result, there were talks of his resemblance to James Bond. Subsequently, Federer did a wonderful campaign with the renowned champagne brand, Moet and Chandon. His looks in the ad film resembled a very popular spy character, as Federer mirrored the charm and sophistication of none other than Agent 007, James Bond.

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The retired tennis sensation even gives his own rendition of the iconic, “Vodka martini, shaken not stirred,” line. “Latte macchiato please; ground, not capsuled,” says Federer.

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Wouldn’t it be one of the highlights of the decade if either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic actually played the role of Agent 007? With Djokovic’s recent statement, Federer will face stiff competition from the Serb, like he has on the tennis court. Who do you think will be better suited to this role? Let us know your views in the comments below!

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Written by

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Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback.

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Arunima Bhanot

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