[WATCH] Virat Kohli shares why he wants Djokovic to beat Alcaraz at Wimbledon 2025

Ace Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli, opened up on wanting Novak Djokovic to be the champion of the Wimbledon 2025 in the men's singles category. He also shared that his rapport with Djokovic was such that he wanted the 38-year-old Serbian tennis pro to win the esteemed tournament while going up against a relatively younger but an equal favourite Carlos Alcaraz. 

The star cricketer also felt that Djokovic deserved the title more than anyone else because of the dedication with which he had trained in the lead up to the tournament. 

“I’ve been in touch with Novak Djokovic for a while now. We’ve exchanged messages, and he’s been very gracious and kind. I’d love to see Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the final — and I hope Novak wins this one. That would be a tremendous achievement at this stage of his career. He’s definitely in the conversation as one of the greatest of all time — if not the greatest — with the highest number of Grand Slam titles. He truly deserves it for all the hard work he’s put in. I really hope he plays Carlos in the final and wins,” he shared via Star Sports.

Kohli weighs in on unique challenges of cricket and tennis

The India international, who has represented the country in over 550 matches, also elaborated on the different aspects of pressure and situations in cricket and tennis.    

“Every sport comes with its own set of challenges. In cricket, one of the biggest is the waiting. You warm up in the morning, then sit in the changing room not knowing when you’ll bat — just waiting, anticipating, reading the game. In tennis, the situation is different. You know exactly what you’re walking into, and you have to pace the game from the very first minute. Cricket is different in that regard — especially for a batter — because you only get one chance. One mistake and you're done for the day. You spend the rest of it clapping from the sidelines. In tennis, you could be two sets down and still come back to win — and we’ve seen many champions do just that over the years,” commented the 36.

Novak Djokovic reacts to Virat Kohli's 'gladiator' praise

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The ace batter, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, also admitted that tennis was a lot more gruelling when it came to intensity, and even remarked that he would find it quite unnerving had he been playing in a high-pressure environment like that seen in tennis.

“So, while both sports are tough, I’d say this (tennis) is far more challenging in terms of intensity. If I were on the court with the crowd so close, I’d find it way too intimidating,” he added.

Having recently retired from Tests and T20Is (in 2024), Kohli will only be playing in the 50-over format. India will next be in action in ODIs when they tour Australia in October and November later this year to take part in a white-ball series against them. This is supposed to be Kohli's first international assignment since Champions Trophy 2025.