Novak Djokovic is enjoying competing against the younger generation as opposed to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic has explained that he prefers to compete against the younger generation he is currently up against as opposed to his famous rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The Serb has battled the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev and will likely have to take them on once again to defend his Australian Open title this month.

Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. (Image: Getty)

Djokovic took the mantle from Federer and Nadal, with the 36-year-old outlasting the pair’s illustrious careers. Federer retired at the 2022 Laver Cup and although Nadal is still playing, hinted that this could be his last season before quitting professional tennis.

Meanwhile, Djokovic remains one of the favourites for the opening Grand Slam of the year and sits atop the world rankings. His exit from the game feels a long way off as fans are likely to be denied the symmetry of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic leaving tennis in quick succession.

But Djokovic does not seem to mind. “Yes, no particular regret or it would (mean something to me) to finish alongside Nadal,” he said. “They are two of my biggest rivals – especially Nadal, as I’ve said numerous times – and that’s never going to change.

Novak Djokovic has opened up on his rivalry with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. (Image: Getty)

“The amount of energy spent on our rivalry during all these years, how many times we played each other… It’s impossible for me to play Alcaraz 60 times. That won’t be possible, because he will finish his career before me,” Djokovic said before bursting out laughing.

“Jokes aside, I am really enjoying the rivalries I have with all those guys. Alcaraz, Medvedev, (Jannik) Sinner, everybody near the top I get along with quite nicely. If I were to compare my relationship with them to the one I had with Federer and Nadal, the relationship with my younger fellow players is much better, nicer. I enjoy it.”

When pressed further on why he prefers his rivalries with the younger generation as opposed to Federer and Nadal he added: “I don’t know, it’s just more open, the younger guys are more communicative. We just get along better, that’s it.”

Novak Djokovic has enjoyed competing against the likes of Daniil Medvedev. (Image: Getty)
And there is a mutual respect between the players gunning for Grand Slams, as Medvedev opened up on how Djokovic flew him to a Davis Cup match between Serbia and Russia in 2017.

After explaining his private jet trip with Djokovic, Medvedev said: “I think that’s what sometimes people don’t know about Novak. He can be tough on the court, like I can be. He can be this and that. But me, since the first time I met him, I was 400 in the world. Now I’m three in the world. Was one in the world. I feel like he treats me like before.

“For sure I became more of a rival than before for him. But the treatment off-court when we see each other is the same. I like this about him. I find this very good from him as a person, yeah.”

To which Djokovic responded: “First of all, I want to thank Daniil for his kind words, he pleasantly surprised me. He did already tell that story, but I very much appreciate the way he brought it to people. I, too, have the best possible opinion about him as a person, colleague, and as one of my biggest rivals in the last five years.

“I know that he is a man with the right values and it’s true when he says that he has a great relationship with the majority of the tour.”