Novak Djokovic Names Non-Tennis Superstar He Would Have Never Beaten Had He Played The Sport

Rishika Singh | 11/08/2024
Novak Djokovic Names Non-Tennis Superstar He Would Have Never Beaten Had He Played The Sport

An epic encounter between arguably two of the greatest athletes of all time was recently revealed by Novak Djokovic. The tennis star shared a hilarious story about bumping into Lionel Messi at a restaurant in New York City back in 2023 in an interview with YopLFrii. During their chat, Messi, ever the curious competitor, asked Djokovic for some tennis tips. 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by MESSI • BARCELONA | PRIME (@messi_prime_x)

 
But Djokovic, always quick with a joke, turned him down, saying:
 
“Please, Messi, don’t ask me for it. You dominated football and now you want to dominate tennis? No, no, play football. When I retire, you can play tennis.

“The truth is that I’m lucky he’s not a tennis player. Otherwise, I wouldn’t win any titles. He’s the best soccer player of all time. I love watching him.”

Messi’s witty response—saying he’s lucky Soccer is played with feet, not hands— left Djokovic both impressed and amused.

He didn’t hold back his admiration, calling Messi the greatest soccer player of all time. Joking that if Messi had chosen tennis, there might not be any titles left for the rest of the players.

Novak Djokovic, with his 24 Grand Slam wins and Lionel Messi, with 8 Ballon d’Ors, both athletes remain at the peak of their sports. Rightfully so, the numbers speak for themselves.

This playful back-and-forth highlights the mutual respect between these two icons. Djokovic’s reaction shows just how much he values Messi’s achievements. While Messi’s curiosity about tennis gives us a peek into his love for all sports.

This little interaction offers fans a rare, light-hearted glimpse into the lives of these two legends. Reminding us that even at the top, there’s room for jokes, mutual respect, and admiration across sports.

Post Edited By: Dhruv Rupani
Lionel Messi Novak Djokovic

About the author

Rishika Singh

Meet Rishika, the Tennis Writer at The SportsRush who spins words as deftly as Federer spins his backhand. Her tennis obsession began at 12, inspired by her dad’s adoration for Roger Federer (the only correct choice, obviously). An athlete herself, Rishika covers sports in an entertaining yet insightful manner, aiming to draw more fans into the game. When not watching or writing about tennis, Rishika loves baking and cooking, dreaming of one day launching her own food truck. Imagine each bite as delightful as a match point. Rishika’s unique blend of sports passion and culinary dreams makes her a standout voice in sports journalism. She serves up stories with humour and wit, ensuring her readers enjoy every moment of the game.

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