Multiple Grand Slam winner suggests who Novak Djokovic’s biggest rival in tennis is today

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Novak Djokovic spent most of his career battling with his ‘big three’ rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

When the pair slowed down, Djokovic began to dominate the ATP Tour.

Nobody has won more Grand Slams in the 2020s than Djokovic, who picked up eight between 2020 and 2023.

He hasn’t won another title since, however, as the young duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have shared the last eight Grand Slams.

But between Alcaraz and Sinner, who is Djokovic’s biggest rival?

During the latest episode of ‘The Tennis‘, Grand Slam doubles legend Todd Woodbridge shared his thoughts.

Todd Woodbridge thinks Jannik Sinner is Novak Djokovic’s biggest rival

The Australian is looking forward to watching Djokovic and Sinner battle it out next year.

“That is the rivalry that I want to see more of in 2026. It is going to be the greatest that we know in terms of numbers, [Novak] Djokovic, and [Jannik] Sinner, who is going to really rival those numbers, I believe,” said Woodbridge.

“And so, this one is trying to stop this one from getting near him.

“A lot like what was happening when Djokovic was getting close to [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal, you could see them going, ‘I hope he doesn’t win this one’, and Sinner is going to be doing that.

“At Wimbledon this year, I thought that was [Carlos] Alcaraz’s tournament, but Sinner won it.

“Upon reflection, watching him there, I think he ends up winning more Wimbledons in his career. I think he’s going to rival 5, 6, maybe 7 Wimbledons if everything goes well.

Most Wimbledon men’s singles titles (Open Era)

• 1. Roger Federer – 8
• T-2. Pete Sampras – 7
• T-2. Novak Djokovic – 7
• 4. Bjorn Borg – 5
• T-5. John McEnroe – 3
• T-5. Boris Becker – 3

“It’s just got something that we can watch over an extended period of time, not just next year.

“What does Sinner do? How does Djokovic halt it while he’s still with us?”

Woodbridge is also interested in whether Djokovic can turn around his losing head-to-head record vs Sinner (4-6).

“You can love or not love Novak, but what I do love about him is where he finds his energy, his motivation,” he said.

“He finds it out of those rivalries, out of those moments, not letting them have what he sees as his.

“This is going to be fun watching both of them.

“But even on the small scale, he wants to turn around a losing record to Sinner.”

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record

Djokovic once led the head-to-head with Sinner 4-1, but has since lost their last five meetings.

Two of those defeats came in the semifinals of Grand Slams this year, as the Serb fell short against the Italian in straight sets.

He’ll certainly hope to avoid the same fate should they meet again in 2026.

Does Novak Djokovic have what it takes to beat Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open?

Djokovic and Sinner are undoubtedly two of the favorites to win the 2026 Australian Open.

The record 10-time champion and the two-time defending champion know their way around Rod Laver Arena, but who would win in a potential 2026 clash?

It’s hard to bet against Sinner, given the success he’s enjoyed over the last two seasons, but counting Djokovic out is a dangerous game…

You feel Djokovic has one last legendary performance left in him, and if he can save it for Sinner at the Australian Open, then perhaps he could yet win his 25th Grand Slam.

Whatever happens, you won’t want to miss any of the action when the 2026 Australian Open begins on Sunday, January 18.