Novak Djokovic has hit out at what he views as "disrespectful" coverage of his career, saying many people forget that he dominated tennis for a sustained period.
Djokovic has failed to win a grand slam title since matching Margaret Court's all-time record - for both male and female players - of 24 major wins at the 2023 US Open.
Since the Serbian's triumph at Flushing Meadows, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have emerged as the dominant forces in the men's game, splitting the last eight slams equally.
Djokovic remains in with a chance of reaching an unprecedented quarter of a century at the Australian Open, where he will face Sinner in the semi-finals after benefiting from back-to-back byes.
Following his walkover against Lorenzo Musetti on Wednesday,
which saw the Italian retire injured when two sets up, Djokovic was asked if he felt he was playing catch-up to Alcaraz and Sinner.
But the 38-year-old pointed out that he has spent longer at the top of the pile than he has as part of the chasing pack, having broken the stranglehold of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal earlier in his career.
He said: "I'm chasing Jannik and Carlos? In what sense? So, I'm always the chaser and never being chased?
"It's worth saying that sometimes [I won 24 grand slams].
"I find it disrespectful that you miss out what happened in between the time that I started 'chasing' Rafa and Roger, and now I'm 'chasing' Carlos and Jannik.
"There was a 15-year period when I was dominating the grand slams. It's important to put that into perspective. "
All love between @DjokerNole + Lorenzo Musetti pic.twitter.com/1P8NTTrRy5
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2026
Djokovic's first major win came at the Australian Open in 2008, though he then had to wait three years to win his second, which also came at Melbourne Park in 2011.
But Djokovic then won his next 23 grand slams titles in 13 years, a period in which 51 majors took place, with the Serbian missing just three of those events.
Some pundits suggested Djokovic's limited time on court at the 2026 Australian Open might bolster his chances of overcoming Sinner on Friday, but he is not sure things are that simple.
"I have no idea at this stage of my career what serves me well and what doesn't," Djokovic said.
"I think I've underperformed, with the level that I showed throughout this tournament. I have to play better - no doubt about it.
"I know that if I'm feeling well and the body is holding on and I'm playing well, then I always have a chance. "
