Novak Djokovic moved into the semi-final of the Australian Open shut down the ‘chaser’ label after a journalist quizzed him on his feeling of having to chase Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the early
part of his career and having to repeat the same dance with the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic, who moved into a record-extending 54th Grand Slam semis thanks to a lucky strike after Lorenzo Musetti, who was leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3, was forced to retire due to an upper right leg injury, keeping the Serbian’s dream of a record 25th Grand Slam intact, recalled that he dominated the sport for over a decade.
“I find if a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between where the times when I started ‘chasing’ as you say, Rafa and Roger, and now that I’m chasing Carlos and Jannik,” the 38-year-old said.
“There’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams. I think it’s important to put that in perspective.”
“I don’t feel like I’m chasing, to be honest. Roger and Rafa will always be my greatest rivals,” the Serbian icon continued.
“I have tremendous respect for what Jannik and Carlos are doing and they will continue to do for the next 10, 15, 20 years. This is a kind of natural cycle in sports.”
“You’re going to have another 2 superstars that are going to maybe have a 3rd guy that I’m going to cheer for, because I’ve always been the 3rd guy at the beginning,” he reflected.
“It’s good for our sport. I think these kind of rivalries and the contrast of personalities and the styles of play are very good for tennis.”
“And how is that effecting me? I don’t feel like I’m chasing. I’m creating my own history,” the 24-time Major winner concluded.
