Novak Djokovic gives a sneak-peak into Carlos Alcaraz's secret talent; ‘the guy rips a 300-yard drive, par 5, and he’s…’
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have been intense rivals on tennis court with a 5-5 head-to-head record. But off the court, Alcaraz shares a great relation with Djokovic.
24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic has given a sneak-peak into Carlos Alcaraz's secret golf skills, with the Serbian stating the the Spanish youngster is damn good like his tennis. Djokovic's remark came after he played had a session of golf with Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev on the sidelines of Indian Wells competition in California.
After the retirement of Spanish great Rafael Nadal, the 22-year-old Alcaraz has emerges a new tennis sensation from the region, winning six grand Slams - US Open (2025), Australian Open (2026), French Open (2024, 2025) and Wimbledon (2023, 2024) - in last three years. In fact, when Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the final of 2026 Australian Open in front of Nadal.
Djokovic revealed that Alcaraz is as good in golf as he is in tennis. “It was my first time to play with those guys,” Djokovic told Tennis Channel in a conversation with Prakash Amritraj. “It was fun, a lot of laughter, a lot of mind games. But it was good.”
“I don’t play as much as I used to,” said the former world no.1. “But the guys are good. I think Alcaraz is on his way. I show up and the guy rips a 300-yard drive, par five, and he’s going for his eagle. I’m like, ‘Is there anything you’re not good at, man?’ What’s going on here, it’s like raw power. He loves his golf.
“It was nice to spend time with these guys. We’re all big rivals but it’s nice we get along well, can play other sports and spend some good time off the court,” added Djokovic, who is searching for a 25th Grand Slam title since the past three years.
Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz rivalry
Despite a 16-year age gap between the two, the 38-year-old Djokovic still gives Alcaraz a run for his money at the highest level. Since Alcaraz came into limelight, Djokovic holds a 5-5 head-to-head record against a 22-year-old Spaniard. The duo has met in five Grand Slam finals, with Alcaraz leading 3-0.
Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz head-to-head
| Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score |
| 2026 | Australian Open (Final) | Hard | Carlos Alcaraz | 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 2025 | US Open (Semifinal) | Hard | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 |
| 2025 | Australian Open (Quarterfinal) | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2024 | Paris Olympics (Final) | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 7-6(3), 7-6(2) |
| 2024 | Wimbledon (Final) | Grass | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) |
| 2023 | ATP Finals (Semifinal) | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2023 | Cincinnati Masters (Final) | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) |
| 2023 | Wimbledon (Final) | Grass | Carlos Alcaraz | 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Roland Garros (Semifinal) | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2022 | Madrid Masters (Semifinal) | Clay | Carlos Alcaraz | 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) |
Novak Djokovic & Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells Open 2026
Alcaraz continued his fine run in the ongoing Indian Wells Open with a win over Arthur Rinderknech on Monday to advance into the fourth round. The win extended Alcaraz's season run to 14 wins and zero losses. Alcaraz will face Norwegian Casper Ruud next.
On the other hand, Djokovic moved to the fourth round, beating American Aleksandar Kovacevic on Tuesday night. The Serbian tennis icon, Djokovic, takes on British tennis player Jack Draper in their respective next round.
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Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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