Cross-sport admiration between global icons often makes for some of the most interesting stories in modern sports. Before his much awaited campaign 2026 Wimbledon Championshipstennis legend novak djokovic Opens up about his unique, long-distance relationship with the Indian cricket maestro Virat Kohli. Despite dominating completely different sporting fields, the bond between the 24-time Grand Slam champion and the former Indian captain highlights a deep story of mutual respect and distinct athletic understanding that has captured the attention of fans around the world.
Novak Djokovic reflects on his friendship with Virat Kohli
Addressing the media on the sidelines of his training session at SW19, Djokovic shed light on his equation with Kohli and revealed that although their relationship is strong, it has remained entirely digital so far. The Serbian master revealed that the two are constantly exchanging messages, keeping an eye on each other’s careers and providing support from a distance.
“We haven’t met in person, we’ve texted, we’ve been in touch over the last couple of years, following each other, supporting each other, admiring each other’s careers,” Djokovic shared in a video posted by Wimbledon.
The 39-year-old tennis star added to the excitement by hinting at an upcoming tour India. He expressed his desire to turn their virtual conversation into a real-world link-up, and humorously suggested a unique crossover event. “Hopefully, I will get a chance to meet him in person and play some tennis, play some cricket. I am also planning to visit India soon, so maybe we can get a link-up here“He said.
This is not the first time Djokovic has praised Kohli. Earlier, he credited the star Indian batsman as his primary inspiration for taking up cricket, a sport he had rarely seen before. Djokovic stressed that his appreciation stemmed from deep respect for Kohli’s legacy and work ethic.
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The dual pursuit of greatness in London and beyond
As Djokovic prepares for his opening round clash wu yibing On the lawns of London, he finds himself on the cusp of history. Entering the tournament as the seventh seed, Djokovic is chasing a historic eighth Wimbledon men’s singles title, a milestone that would tie him roger federerAll-time records on grass. Additionally, a win would secure her 25th Grand Slam singles title, breaking her tie margaret court To claim the absolute record for most major titles in tennis history.
Besides, Kohli is also preparing for his comeback at the international level. The veteran batsman is coming off a sensational domestic performance where he led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) his second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) Trophy.
After retiring from both Test and T20I formats, Kohli is exclusively focused on One Day Internationals (ODIs). After recovering from the minor hamstring strain he suffered during the IPL final, Kohli has passed his fitness test and is ready to lead India’s batting lineup. Their next assignment is the important three-match ODI series against India EnglandWith the event set to begin at Edgbaston on 14 July, both sporting icons will be in the full spotlight of the global Games this summer.