Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj has expressed awe at Novak Djokovic's relentless drive ahead of Wimbledon 2026, arguing that the Serbian's most remarkable quality is not his unmatched record but the hunger he carries into every Grand Slam despite having won virtually everything the sport offers. Speaking at JioStar Media Day ahead of the tournament, Amritraj identified Djokovic's quest for a 25th Grand Slam title as the defining storyline of this year's edition at the All England Club.

Djokovic's Pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam

'What motivates this guy to go after everything after all that he's won? He has won both singles titles in any other major in history, and nobody is going to catch him, certainly not in my lifetime. And so I think that he's going after 25 for no other reason but his entire passion and desire to put work into it,' Amritraj said.

The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, and recent Padma Bhushan awardee, noted that Djokovic's motivation appears to stem entirely from an internal compulsion to extend his own legacy — a trait that sets him apart from peers who might have stepped back long before reaching this point in their careers.

Sinner Backed to Bounce Back

Amritraj also backed World No. 1 Jannik Sinner to remain a dominant force at Wimbledon despite a difficult outing at the French Open in Paris. He pointed to Sinner's track record of recovering from adversity as evidence of the Italian's resilience.

'It was over the top heat, but at the end of the day, from that position to actually losing five sets, but the way he has come back in the past, it happened to him in Australia when he was up against Djokovic and then eventually won Indian Wells in Miami. So I think he's the kind of guy who's there to stay, no question. He's authentic, the real deal,' Amritraj said.

This comes amid a broader debate over whether Sinner's Paris defeat signals a vulnerability on clay or was simply a one-off, heat-affected aberration. Amritraj's reading leans firmly toward the latter.

Alcaraz and Zverev Add to Wide-Open Draw

Amritraj described the men's draw as genuinely open, flagging Carlos Alcaraz's expected return to contention alongside the newly-crowned French Open champion Alexander Zverev, whose maiden Grand Slam title could fuel fresh confidence on grass.

'Someone like that will think to himself, today, 'listen, the monkey's off my back, I've won my first major, now I'm going to go, and I think I can win Wimbledon as well,'' Amritraj said of Zverev.

Notably, Wimbledon has historically produced upsets when a first-time Grand Slam winner arrives carrying the momentum of a breakthrough — making Zverev a credible dark horse alongside the established favourites.

Wimbledon's Unmatched Brand and India's Growing Viewership

Beyond the on-court action, Amritraj reflected on Wimbledon's enduring cultural stature, describing it as an event that transcends sport and anchors the British summer calendar.

'This event is really not just only a tennis event, you know, it is a sporting base of the British summer here in the UK and it's incredible because for the entire fortnight it's so hard to get a ticket and irrespective of who's playing,' he said.

He also pointed to India's growing role as arguably the world's largest tennis-viewing nation, crediting the JioStar–Wimbledon broadcast partnership for driving that reach. As the tournament gets underway, all eyes will be on whether Djokovic can add a record-extending 25th major to his collection — or whether the next generation finally steps up to deny him.