In the high-octane realm of men’s tennis, where rivalries shape legacies, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has been dealt a stark assessment of his place in the sport’s evolving hierarchy. Former world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic recently labeled the Serbian legend a “third wheel” in the wake of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s relentless supremacy, a verdict that underscores the seismic shift in tennis’s power dynamics. As the 2025 season unfolds, with Sinner and Alcaraz monopolizing the last seven Grand Slam titles, Djokovic’s enduring brilliance is being overshadowed by the sport’s new titans, sparking debate about his role in an era defined by the “Sincaraz” rivalry.
Petkovic’s blunt commentary, shared on her podcast with Boris Becker, draws a poignant parallel between Djokovic’s current predicament and his early career, when he played second fiddle to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. “He was with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and now he’s with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner,” she observed, reflecting on the cyclical nature of Djokovic’s journey. “It was his initial destiny in tennis to be number three, then there were years when he was number one. Now, towards the end of his career, it’s his destiny again to be the third wheel.” Her words capture the bittersweet reality for the 38-year-old Serbian, who once disrupted the Federer-Nadal duopoly to claim 24 majors, only to find himself outpaced by two players who were toddlers when he first reached world No. 3 in 2007.
Sinner, the world No. 1, and Alcaraz, No. 2, have redefined men’s tennis with their blistering pace and fearless shot-making. Since the start of 2024, they’ve split seven Grand Slams—Sinner with four, including the 2024 and 2025 Australian Opens, the 2024 US Open, and the 2025 Wimbledon, and Alcaraz with three, including the 2024 and 2025 French Opens and the 2024 Wimbledon. Djokovic’s last major triumph, the 2023 US Open, feels increasingly distant, especially as four of his six Grand Slam losses since 2024 have come against Sinner or Alcaraz. “He’s clearly better than the rest of the field in big matches,” Petkovic acknowledged, noting Djokovic’s three semifinal appearances in 2025 alone. “But against those two, it’s not enough.” Her analysis highlights the daunting gap between Djokovic and the new guard, whose athleticism and tactical brilliance have set a new benchmark.
Djokovic’s resilience remains undeniable. At the 2025 Australian Open, he outplayed Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, only to retire against Alexander Zverev in the semifinals due to a hamstring injury. “I thought he played so well at the Australian Open that match against Carlos,” Petkovic said, dismissing concerns about his form. Yet, Sinner’s straight-sets demolition of Djokovic at the 2025 French Open and Wimbledon semifinals exposed vulnerabilities, particularly on clay and grass, where the Italian’s precision overwhelmed the Serbian’s trademark defense. Alcaraz, too, has had Djokovic’s number, notably in their 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals, though Djokovic clawed back a thrilling Olympic gold-medal win over Alcaraz in 2024. “Novak still has it,” Petkovic wrote on her Substack blog during the Australian Open, marveling at his ability to “hang with the young guys” at 37. But she admitted, “I couldn’t quite believe he would be able to retain enough explosiveness.”
The “third wheel” label stings because it contrasts sharply with Djokovic’s storied career. From 2011 to 2023, he dominated, winning 23 of his 24 Slams and solving the Federer-Nadal puzzle with relentless physicality and mental fortitude. Now, facing Sinner and Alcaraz—aged 23 and 22, respectively—he confronts a challenge that time may not allow him to conquer. “What did he do wrong to be the third wheel again?” Petkovic mused, a rhetorical question that underscores the inevitability of age and the rise of a new era. Sinner’s 6-4 head-to-head edge over Djokovic, including six consecutive wins, and Alcaraz’s ability to exploit Djokovic’s serve in key moments, as seen in their 2024 Wimbledon final, highlight the shifting tide.
As the US Open approaches, Djokovic remains a formidable contender, with his 10 Australian Open titles and four US Open crowns proving his hard-court prowess. Yet, Sinner’s US Open defense and Alcaraz’s 2022 title there loom large. Petkovic’s verdict, while harsh, reflects a broader sentiment: Djokovic’s greatness endures, but the spotlight belongs to Sinner and Alcaraz, whose rivalry—marked by epic battles like their five-hour, 29-minute 2025 French Open final—has captivated the sport. For Djokovic, the challenge is clear: defy destiny once more or embrace his role as the elder statesman in a game now ruled by its fearless new kings.
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