Novak Djokovic, the legendary 24-time Grand Slam champion and one of the all-time greats in tennis, has stirred up excitement among sports enthusiasts by sharing insights about his long-standing friendship with Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli.
In a chat with Star Sports ahead of Wimbledon 2026, Djokovic revealed that, “We haven’t met in person, we have texted, we have been in touch for the last few years, following each other, supporting each other, admiring each other’s careers, hopefully I will get a chance to meet him in person and play some tennis, play some cricket.”
He mentioned how they’ve been following each other’s journeys, exchanging words of support and admiration, and he expressed his eagerness to finally meet during his upcoming trip to India. Djokovic also shared his enthusiasm for the idea of playing both tennis and cricket with Kohli, making the thought of a unique cross-sport collaboration even more thrilling.
Even though they excel in different sports, Djokovic and Kohli have a lot in common, sharing a journey marked by consistency, discipline, and remarkable success. Djokovic holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles at 24 and has spent more weeks as World No. 1 than any other male player. On the other hand, Kohli has notched up an impressive 85 international centuries and continues to be one of cricket’s biggest stars. Their mutual respect has blossomed over the years, with Djokovic previously mentioning that Kohli has inspired him to pay closer attention to cricket.
Novak Djokovic Backs His Chances Ahead of Wimbledon Challenge
As Wimbledon approaches, Djokovic is exuding confidence, even though he’s facing a tough draw. In a media chat on Saturday, the Serbian star shared that he feels in better shape now than he did before Roland-Garros. He pointed out that playing on grass requires less physical exertion compared to clay, which boosts his confidence at a tournament where he has had incredible success. Djokovic also acknowledged that his three matches at the French Open, each nearly four hours long, really took a toll on him. Despite exiting in the third round after a grueling five-set match, he expressed pride in the effort he put forth against a much younger rival.
Now, all eyes are on Wimbledon, where Djokovic is aiming for his record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title and an eighth Wimbledon victory. At 39 years old, he enters the tournament with a 9-4 record this season and is still searching for his first title. He opted out of grass-court warm-up events to keep himself fresh and feels his body is in a better state as he heads into the Championships. Djokovic will kick off his campaign against China’s Wu Yibing, with the tournament running from June 29 to July 12. With his confidence on the rise and history within reach, the Serbian is eager to make another deep run, while fans are also looking forward to his much-anticipated trip to India and a potential meeting with Virat Kohli.
