Jimmy Connors says it is "crazy" that 38-year-old Novak Djokovic is the third-best player in the game after Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and the American tennis legend is urging the younger guys to step up and challenge the two top-ranked players in the game.
After completely dominating the 2024 season, Alcaraz and Sinner continued with their dominance in 2025. Those two have now split the last eight Grand Slams between them.
Besides the Spaniard and the Italian, one player who consistently delivered at the Major level this year was Djokovic. But the issue for the Serb was his inability to find an answer in matches against the world No. 1 and the world No. 2.
Alexander Zverev made the Australian Open final but stood no chance against Sinner. The remaining three Grand Slam finals of 2025 featured an Alcaraz and Sinner match.
ADVERTISEMENT
Connors hails Djokovic's longevity and sends a message to the younger guys
"It's interesting because there's only two guys that are on a different level from him still. It is crazy, and so the young guys are going to have to step it up, and I say that with utmost respect, because if not, you're just going to have an Alcaraz-Sinner, Alcaraz-Sinner, Alcaraz-Sinner, you know, basically you've had that for the last eight Slams. Federer-Nadal, all of a sudden, had Djoker and then Murray. They had some in and out who made it a little more exciting, but they need somebody to come in or be a part of that," Connors said on his podcast.
On a couple of instances this year, Djokovic admitted that he was a level below Alcaraz and Sinner. However, the record 24-time Grand Slam champion confirmed that he would return for the 2026 season and noted that he would keep trying until he felt there was a chance for him to win on the biggest stage.
ADVERTISEMENT
It remains to be seen if anybody can break through Alcaraz and Sinner in at least one Grand Slam next year.
