What Carlos Alcaraz has learned from practice time with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic ahead of Wimbledon - 'It's crazy'
Published 30/06/2025 at 13:34 GMT+1
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic were the first players to practice on Centre Court ahead of Wimbledon 2025. Alcaraz says it is "great" to spend time with Djokovic and has spoken about what he has learned from the 24-time Grand Slam champion. He says he has been able to "talk closely with him like a friend". Alcaraz has won Wimbledon the last two years in a row.
‘I really want to win the trophy’ – Alcaraz on targeting third straight Wimbledon title
Video credit: SNTV
Carlos Alcaraz has revealed what he has been "learning" from Novak Djokovic ahead of starting his quest for a third straight Wimbledon title.
Alcaraz has beaten Djokovic in the final for the last two years at SW19, denying him a record 25th Grand Slam title.
This year, the pair had the honour of being the first players to practice together on Centre Court.
There were plenty of funny moments during the session, with Djokovic saying he was privileged to be chosen to practice with Alcaraz, to which the Spaniard replied: "Come on, talk seriously, man!
"The privilege is mine to play with a seven-time champion. It’s crazy what he has done here. Not only on grass... it’s a privilege.’
Djokovic also joked: "I'm looking for a little bit more respect from him. He’s talking about respect but the last two years he didn’t give me the respect on this court."
Djokovic has won four of the last six meetings against Alcaraz, with the losses coming in the last two Wimbledon finals.
Asked about his relationship with Djokovic, Alcaraz told TNT Sports: "He is a really nice guy off the court.
"People are talking a lot about him but he is a really nice person, his family as well. I love to spend time with him off the court, any time that I can, learning from him.
"Being around a legend like him, being able to learn from him and talk closely with him like a friend, for me it’s great.
"I enjoy it a lot having time with him on and off the court, and it’s great to know he was watching the [French Open] final."
Djokovic has said the epic French Open final between Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was "one of the best matches" he has ever seen and it made him "pumped" to get back to that level.
Alcaraz is aiming to win a sixth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and is bidding to join Bjorn Borg as the only men in the Open Era to complete the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in consecutive years.
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Asked what he has learned from his time with Djokovic, Alcaraz said: "A lot.
"How to deal with certain situations, how to deal with the pressure of expectations and on the court he beat me a few times already in big moments so I have learned a lot from them too."
Alcaraz starts his title defence against Fabio Fognini on Monday. Djokovic plays his first match against Alexandre Muller on Tuesday.
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