Ivan Ljubicic, the ex-coach of former world number one Roger Federer, has revealed that the former German great Boris Becker has informed him that Serbia’s Novak Djokovic has accepted the superiority of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, something he has never done before.
The 37-year-old is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles in his illustrious career. Djokovic was part of the original ‘Big Three,’ which also featured Federer and Spain’s legendary tennis star Rafael Nadal. Over the years, the Serb has always managed to get the better of his opponents on different courts.
However, recently, he has struggled to cope with the pace of Alcaraz, who recently defeated him in the final of Wimbledon 2024 in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2, 7-6. It was not the first time Djokovic, who has a fabulous record while playing at Wimbledon, lost to the young Spaniard in the final of a mega-event. Last year, he ended on the wrong side of the result in a five-set thriller with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.
Ljubicic, who worked with Federer in the past, was recently quoted in a report where he stated that he was informed by former world number one Becker that Djokovic had accepted Alcaraz’s superiority, something he never did even against the likes of Swiss legendary tennis star and Nadal. The 45-year-old also stated that for the first time in more than a decade, it seems that a change of generation is finally taking place.
"Boris Becker recently told me that it seems to him that Djokovic practically accepted the superiority of Alcaraz, which he never did with Nadal and Federer," he said. "We are not far from a complete change of generations. That's life.”
Every time I walk on to Centre Court, I am filled with such gratitude that I am living out my childhood dream. Thank you to my entire team, partners, family, friends and #nolefam for all of your support throughout the last few weeks. Onwards. Felicidades, @carlosalcaraz. Well…
