“Novak Djokovic’s Critical Mistake with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner – And the Shocking Consequences”

Novak Djokovic has made very few missteps throughout his legendary career, but he might have faltered with his approach to his newest rivals.

As the 24-time Grand Slam champion seeks to put the finishing touches on his iconic career following his Olympic gold medal win in Paris last month, he might soon question how much more he has to give.

The rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner appeared to reignite Djokovic’s determination to fend off the next generation, as he captured three Grand Slam titles in 2023.

However, this year’s record books will not include another major title for Djokovic, with Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the spoils of the Grand Slams that have taken place so far.

During the days when Djokovic was fiercely competing with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the biggest titles in tennis, there was little camaraderie between the three most successful male players of all time.

But that intensity has been lacking since Alcaraz and Sinner emerged as Djokovic’s main rivals. Alcaraz recently confirmed as much in his comments.

“We have a really good friendship off the court,” Alcaraz said of Djokovic. “We talk a lot in the locker room whenever we see each other around. With his team as well.

“Once we step on the court, there are no friends on tour, but afterward, I have a really good relationship with many players, and Novak is one of them.”

Champions rarely form friendships with their rivals, but Djokovic has made Alcaraz and Sinner feel at ease around him, which may have been a miscalculation.

The mystique surrounding champions is often built on an air of invincibility, and allowing a rival to become a friend can diminish that aura.

Alcaraz and Sinner don’t view Djokovic as the unbeatable force that the previous generation of players did. When they face him on the court, their friendly exchanges and practice sessions with Djokovic dilute the fear factor he once commanded.

Djokovic may have believed these young players wouldn’t challenge his dominance until he was ready to retire, but they have surprised him with their rapid ascent and are now firmly established as contenders in every tournament they enter. The same can be said for Djokovic as long as he continues to play, and while his surprising defeat against Alexei Popyrin at the US Open suggests his era of dominance might be ending, his Olympic victory shows there is still brilliance left in the former world No. 1, provided he can maintain his motivation.

The beginning of this year hinted that Djokovic’s drive to stay at the top might be fading, except for the major events that truly inspire him. Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, speaking to Tennis365, noted that motivation will be Djokovic’s biggest challenge as he nears the end of his career.

“He showed at the start of the season that he was human,” Mouratoglou said in an interview ahead of the UTS Grand Final in London in December. “I sensed that he had a real motivation issue, especially when he saw Rafa struggling and possibly not returning to the top.

“At the start of the season, it was almost as if Novak felt the competition was over because Rafa was struggling so much, and it seemed unlikely he would return to form.

“I think this impacted Novak’s motivation. One of the major drivers of his career was to surpass the Grand Slam records of Federer and Nadal, and he has achieved that.

“Then came the Olympics, a title that had eluded him, and his motivation was reignited. In a short period, he was able to perform at his best once again.

“For him, it will now be about finding that motivation going forward. His tennis skills are intact, and physically, he is still in peak condition, but the question is how much he still wants to continue.”

Djokovic’s US Open loss has fueled speculation that his time at the top might be running out, but underestimating the greatest player of all time would be a mistake.