Tennis can be a cruel sport, and at 38, Novak Djokovic stands as its finest example. The Serb legend, who equalled Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles with his 2023 US Open triumph, now finds his path blocked by the blazing rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Despite reaching four Slam semifinals this year, physical woes derailed him in Melbourne, while the ‘Sincaraz’ storm halted his charge in the others. As the season draws to its twilight with the ATP Finals underway, Djokovic now openly admits doubts over winning Grand Slams due to Sinner-Alcaraz.

In a heartfelt and revealing conversation with Piers Morgan, who began by apologizing for his controversial remarks following Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in 2022, the Serb legend laid his emotions bare. Djokovic, candid and contemplative, spoke with rare humility about the changing tides of men’s tennis and the reality of age finally catching up to him. “I am aware that right now both are better than me. That is the reality. For much of my career, I have believed in things that were impossible to achieve, but I have always been very positive in achieving my goals,” he said.

He paused before adding something more profound, an acknowledgment that time spares no champion. “I have a lot of faith in the power of thoughts, but at the same time, I also believe in biology. I am 38 years old, wear and tear is real. And I have had a couple of reality checks this past year.” 

When the conversation turned toward his Grand Slam ambitions, Djokovic didn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth. “Both have made me doubt whether I can win another Grand Slam, but when I step on the court, I don’t care who I’m facing, as long as I am better and I am going to win, and I will give everything to achieve it. I still have the mindset of a winner and I only hope to continue keeping my body fit.” It was vintage Djokovic, vulnerable yet defiant, wounded yet unwilling to surrender.

He then reflected on the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, two names now synonymous with his late-career battles. “It’s not easy for me to accept, being the dominant player for most of my career, 20 years, and now being dominated, particularly by [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner,” he confessed. “I knew it was going to happen eventually, that guys would come and start to dominate, and someone would form a new rivalry.” The admission, though honest, carried a quiet edge, a reminder that Djokovic has built his empire on confronting challenges just like these.

His season, however, told a story of struggle. The Serb pulled out of the Paris Masters in October without offering a reason, though injuries had already shadowed him since his semi-final loss to qualifier Valentin Vacherot in Shanghai. Despite qualifying for the ATP Finals as the world’s No. 3, Djokovic was forced to withdraw the day before the tournament, again due to lingering fitness issues.

His results spoke volumes. He fell to Sinner in both the French Open and Wimbledon semifinals and to Alcaraz at the same stage of the US Open, three painful reminders of how the balance of power has shifted. “I’m aware of what’s happening. My best level, their best level now, they’re better. That’s the reality,” he admitted once more, each word a blend of pride and acceptance.

But Djokovic’s story has never been one of quiet resignation. Even now, he carries that spark, the fierce self-belief that fueled his ascent from Belgrade’s war-torn streets to tennis immortality. “But at the same time, I know that while I am still active, and when I enter the court, I don’t care who is across the net, I always believe I’m better, and I believe that I deserve to win, and I’m going to do everything I can to win,” he declared, his tone shifting from reflective to resolute.

Winner’s mentality or not, Djokovic stands at a crossroads, facing a new generation determined to dethrone him. Yet amid reflections on age, rivalry, and legacy, the Serb also addressed another storm brewing in the tennis world, the doping controversy that sidelined Jannik Sinner for three months in 2025. 

Novak Djokovic says doping scandal will haunt Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner’s 2025 season began under a storm that few expected. The world No.1 served a suspension in February after twice testing positive for a prohibited substance, a case he claimed stemmed from contamination caused by a cream applied by his physiotherapist. What followed was a whirlwind that split the tennis world in two, exposing the sport’s uneasy relationship with fairness and accountability.

While Sinner avoided suspension during the investigation, critics pointed out the stark contrast in treatment compared to lesser-known players who faced immediate bans. The discrepancy sparked outrage across the circuit, even as Sinner returned from his 12-week absence to claim a resounding Wimbledon triumph, proving his tennis brilliance had not faded.

Still, the shadow refused to lift. Many within the tennis community raised concerns about the “many red flags” surrounding the case’s handling, and Novak Djokovic, a man who knows what it means to live under constant scrutiny, did not hold back. “That cloud will follow him as the cloud of COVID will follow me for the rest of my career,” Djokovic said. “It is just something that … it was so major that when it happens, over time it will fade, but I don’t think it will disappear. There are always going to be certain groups of people who will try to bring that forward.”

The Serb’s words carried weight. After all, he himself endured global criticism following his deportation from Australia in 2022. Now, he saw echoes of that same double standard in Sinner’s saga. “You could hear so many other players, both male and female, who had some similar situations coming out and complaining that it was a preferable treatment,” Djokovic added.

He didn’t stop there. “The lack of transparency, the inconsistency, the convenience of the ban coming between the slams so he doesn’t miss them — it was very, very odd. I really didn’t like how that case was being handled.” His tone was sharp, his words measured, yet the frustration was unmistakable.

With the Serbian great now speaking openly, the issue has once again found life. Sinner’s triumphs continue to dazzle, but the shadow of controversy lingers just behind the glow of his success.

And as Sinner and Alcaraz continue to rule the tennis world with youthful ferocity, Novak Djokovic, still haunted by his own past storms, eyes a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam, perhaps waiting to rise again when the Australian Open begins on January 12.