"When I saw him here, I told him we have to speak about the percentage of his winnings": Novak Djokovic jokes about Carlos Alcaraz serve similarities

Novak Djokovic marked a significant milestone at the 2026 Australian Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over Pedro Martínez, cruising to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win to record his 100th career victory at Melbourne Park.

The Serb looked sharp throughout the contest, producing a dominant serving display and showing no obvious physical concerns as he began his latest campaign at a tournament that has defined much of his career.

Asked post-match how his body and mind were feeling with a long fortnight potentially ahead, Djokovic was positive, while stopping short of looking too far forward.

“It felt good tonight,” he said in his post match press conference. “Let’s see how it’s going to feel in a few days’ time. Performance-wise, the feeling on the court was great, so I couldn’t ask for more. Obviously, it was a great serving performance. Overall, it felt really good on the court. It has made me feel good on it so many times throughout my career. Let’s see what comes my way in a few days’ time.”

Djokovic also provided one of the highlights of the night with a spectacular airborne forehand winner, reportedly clocked at 176km/h, which was followed by a visible smile that caught the attention of those watching.

That moment, he revealed, immediately reminded him of one of the tour’s most athletic shot-makers.

“I actually thought of Gaël Monfils. That’s why I smiled,” Djokovic explained. “There’s nothing much to talk about in addition to that, because I connected well. I didn’t hit too many of those in my career, but Gaël did. We’ve seen him so many times in highlights. When I did that, he crossed my mind first. I was like, now I know how he feels. It felt good, definitely.”

The 24-time Grand Slam champion was also in a playful mood when asked about Carlos Alcaraz’s revamped serve, which the Spaniard has suggested bears similarities to Djokovic’s own motion.

Djokovic joked that he had already been in touch with the reigning world number one about the matter.

“As soon as I saw it, I sent him a message,” he said. “I said, ‘We have to speak about the copyrights.’ When I saw him here, I told him we have to speak about the percentage of his winnings. Every ace, I expect a tribute to me — every ace that he makes here. Let’s see if he’s going to stick to the agreement.”

With his popularity on Rod Laver Arena once again evident, Djokovic was also asked about potential scheduling congestion in the coming days, with himself, Alex de Minaur and Alcaraz all likely to be in action on the same day — meaning not all can feature on the tournament’s show court.

While careful not to criticise the organisers, Djokovic made his stance clear. “I think you know the answer, right?” he said. “You should ask the tournament organisers that question. I’m not the one making the schedule, but you know what my preference is.”

With milestone win number 100 now secured in Melbourne and his level looking ominously strong, Djokovic appears firmly settled as he sets his sights on another deep Australian Open run.