Former world No. 12, Feliciano Lopez, has weighed in on the current state of men’s tennis, asserting that Novak Djokovic is no longer on par with rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
In recent times, Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated the Grand Slam scene, each clinching three of the last six major titles.
The impressive run by the Spaniard and the Italian has drawn a clear line between the new generation and the seasoned Serbian star.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Lopez acknowledged Djokovic’s enduring quality but stressed the need for him to elevate his game if he hopes to rival the younger duo.
“He’s not at the levels of Carlos and Jannik, especially in the last 18 months, because the numbers speak for themselves,” Lopez said.
However, he noted Djokovic’s resilience during a recent encounter with Sinner.
“But the way he played against Sinner surprised me. He challenged Sinner and pushed him to the limit,” Lopez added.
He further suggested that grass courts might offer Djokovic his best shot at closing the gap with the younger contenders.
“Although the gap is still big, I see the grass as the only place for him to get to this level that they play because the grass is very different. Djokovic proved that he can still compete at this level, but he will have a better chance on grass,” Lopez stressed.
