Djokovic’s chance at a 25th Grand Slam is rare, and the trio of Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic is quite amusing.

In his 11th time reaching the Australian Open men’s singles final and pursuing a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam, Djokovic’s hopes were dashed—Alcaraz bounced back strongly after dropping the first set, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to complete the turnaround. With this historic clash settled, Rafael Nadal commented on the occasion and spoke about the milestone Djokovic failed to achieve.

At a recent charity golf event held on Mallorca and organized by the Rafa Nadal Foundation, Nadal addressed Djokovic’s failure to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, stating, “I don’t believe whether Djokovic wins his 25th Grand Slam will change anything in tennis; it’s neither good nor bad for the sport.”

He then spoke about the heights of Djokovic’s career and his remarkable longevity at the top level: “Djokovic has had an impressive career, and the reason he’s still here is because he still has the ability. He had opportunities in Melbourne. Honestly, considering his age, I don’t think there will be many such chances left, but everything he has accomplished is admirable.”

Nadal did not simply label the current period as a “generational transition” but emphasized the value of having multiple great players competing simultaneously: “We should be happy to have Djokovic still standing at the peak, as well as Alcaraz, who has taken tennis to incredible heights.”

He also opposed direct comparisons between players at different stages of their careers, stressing the importance of context and timing in such discussions.

Even after Djokovic’s loss in the Australian Open final, Nadal publicly expressed respect for him, acknowledging his continued excellence: “Congratulations @DjokerNole for reaching the final in Melbourne once again and continuing to make history in this sport, and thank you for your words during the trophy ceremony!”

After reflecting on Djokovic missing this milestone, Nadal also turned his attention to another debate—Moratoglou’s controversial comparison of Sinner and Alcaraz with Djokovic. Moratoglou wrote on Instagram: “For those who think Djokovic’s win over Sinner in the Australian Open semifinal means the ‘Big Three’s’ tennis level is superior to Alcaraz and Sinner, this view is too simplistic.”

He further explained his opinion by comparing the players’ current levels and differences on court: “Yannik is faster, hits harder, strikes earlier, and serves better. Novak possesses the strongest mental toughness in tennis history, which is the decisive factor. Novak isn’t a better tennis player than Sinner, but he is the greatest competitor in history, and in that match, he indeed performed better than Sinner.”

After Nadal reacted to this post, the discussion intensified. In a later deleted interaction, Nadal commented with a smiling and face-covering emoji, which many interpreted as a subtle disagreement.

However, the retired Spanish legend later clarified that there was no real conflict, calmly explaining his reaction: “I don’t see any controversy. I don’t want to create any, but the problem is that the gentleman’s analysis is wrong. It’s like analyzing today’s Messi by comparing him to Messi at Barcelona years ago, or comparing current Ronaldo with himself during his Real Madrid days—that’s my point.”

Nadal also emphasized that he does not intend to directly compare players or create rivalry between generations, adding: “In the end, everyone will follow their own career path. I have never said who is better than whom; each career will determine greatness, and they are all outstanding ambassadors of this sport. I think we should be happy to have a player like Novak still at the top after so many years. Having Carlos is also a blessing because he is a great player representing us worldwide.”

Through these statements, Nadal clearly expressed his respect for each player’s career journey and acknowledged the value every generation brings to the sport.

Although Sinner and Alcaraz currently show dominant performances, Djokovic’s pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title is far from over. He has made it clear he plans to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This timeline means he will still have several opportunities to challenge for Grand Slam titles, although he will be 41 years old by then.

The challenges ahead are formidable: age, physical condition, and rising competitors will all test his consistency at the highest level. Yet Djokovic has repeatedly proven he can defy expectations and remain competitive.

Even after setbacks at this Australian Open, the Serbian remains focused on chasing new historic titles. Whether he can win another Grand Slam before retiring will be answered by time.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)