Novak Djokovic’s former coach, Boris Becker, has sent a candid message to the Serbian superstar, suggesting that “time is running out” for him to clinch a record 25th Grand Slam title in the face of strong competition from younger rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Becker’s remarks underscore a growing sentiment in the tennis world regarding the generational shift at the top of men’s tennis.
Becker, who coached Djokovic from 2013 to 2016, stated on the ‘Becker Petkovic’ podcast that while he was pleased Djokovic reached the semifinals, the critical question remains whether that is “enough” for the 38-year-old. He added that on their good days, Sinner and Alcaraz are “better than Djokovic is on his good days,” a reality that he believes frustrates the Serb, “but he’s a realist.”
The Shifting Landscape: Djokovic’s Grand Slam Quest
Djokovic, currently tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam wins in history with 24 titles, has openly expressed his desire to become the sole record holder. However, his recent Grand Slam performances have fueled concerns about his ability to overcome the rising stars. He has suffered three consecutive semifinal defeats at major tournaments in 2025.
Most recently, Djokovic fell to Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the semifinals of both Wimbledon and the French Open. This follows a final loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon in a previous season. Sinner, in particular, has emerged as a formidable challenge, having beaten Djokovic in their five most recent meetings. Becker described Sinner as “Djokovic 2.0” due to his similar playing style and youthful vigor.
The “Sincaraz” Era Challenge
The emergence of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has been dubbed the “Sincaraz era,” posing a significant hurdle to Djokovic’s continued dominance. Becker emphasized the difficulty of Djokovic’s path to another major, asserting that “to win a Grand Slam, he probably has to beat both Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.”
Djokovic himself has acknowledged the challenge, stating after his French Open semifinal loss to Sinner, “I lost in straight sets to Jannik in the semis of Roland Garros. I think I played a solid match. I could’ve played better. But he was just a better player when the moments were important.” He also admitted that “playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically.”
Contrasting Views from Former Coaches
While Becker’s assessment is stark, another of Djokovic’s former coaches, Goran Ivanisevic, holds a slightly different view. Ivanisevic, who guided Djokovic to nine Grand Slam titles, maintains that “when Novak really wants to play, he is still the best in the world, in my opinion.” He recently described Djokovic as “untouchable” after analyzing the Wimbledon draw, despite Sinner and Alcaraz’s more recent form. However, Djokovic himself dismissed Ivanisevic’s claim that he was the favorite for Wimbledon 2025. Ivanisevic also weighed in on the Sinner-Alcaraz debate, suggesting that Sinner is “more consistent” than Alcaraz when both are at their best.
Despite varying perspectives, the consensus from the Djokovic camp and analysts alike is that the road to further Grand Slam glory will be increasingly challenging for the veteran as Sinner and Alcaraz continue to assert their presence at the pinnacle of men’s tennis. The question of whether Djokovic can adapt and overcome this formidable new generation remains a central narrative in the sport.
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