Djokovic wishes he was part of Agassi, Sampras and Ivanisevic era: "I would love to have experienced playing Jimmy Connors"
ATP
Novak
Djokovic expressed that he would have liked to play alongside Pete Sampras,
Andre Agassi, and Goran Ivanisevic.
The 23-time
Grand Slam champion has been part of what many consider the greatest rivalry in
tennis history alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, collectively known as
the Big Three. They are the three players with the most Grand Slam titles in
men's tennis history: Djokovic with 23, Nadal with 22, and Federer with 20.
'Nole'
spoke to the Serbian press at Wimbledon after advancing to the semifinals and
jokingly mentioned how it would have been if he had played tennis during the
era of other great legends, including John McEnroe, Boris Becker, and Ivan
Lendl.
“I would
probably get into an argument with (John) McEnroe. Yes, we’ve all thought about
it. We all compare ourselves to the champions of the past. Many of these
champions are still very active in our sport – McEnroe, Boris Becker, Ivan
Lendl et cetera. I know Boris really well, and we often spoke about these
topics and how he sees today’s tennis compared to his era,” Djokovic said.
"I would love to have experienced playing Connors at night session in New York"
The Serbian
player expressed regret for never having played against Pete Sampras, his
childhood idol, or against his current coach Goran Ivanisevic, a former world
No. 2.
“I am very
sorry I didn’t have a chance to play Pete, since he inspired me to pick up a
racquet. With (Andre) Agassi, I did play one exhibition match here before
Wimbledon. I would have loved to be part of that era, together with crazy
Goran,” Djokovic said.
“The
Borg-McEnroe rivalry. … Then, I would love to have experienced playing Jimmy
Connors at a night session in New York – the way he played and the buzz around
the stadium, it was awesome. Still, I am grateful to be part of this era with
three of my biggest rivals, who pushed me towards all the success I managed to
achieve,” world No. 2 added.
Djokovic
will be playing his 11th semifinal at the All England Club, boasting a record
of 8-3 since his first semifinal appearance in 2007. His opponent on this
occasion will be the young Italian Jannik Sinner, who comes off a victory
against Roman Safiulin and is reaching this stage of a Grand Slam for the first
time.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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