Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Says Djokovic Is His Idol During Wimbledon Debut
By Shivam Kumar | Senior Sports Reporter
India's teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi says Novak Djokovic remains his favourite tennis player, while also praising Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz after attending his first-ever Wimbledon final. The 15-year-old made the comments while watching the 2026 men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev at the All England Club.
The Rajasthan Royals youngster was among several Indian cricket personalities invited to Wimbledon, joining former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and fellow opener Abhishek Sharma. Speaking to JioStar, Sooryavanshi described the experience as his first opportunity to watch Grand Slam tennis live and explained how the occasion gave him a closer appreciation of the sport's biggest stage.
First Wimbledon Experience Leaves An Impression
For a player who has emerged as one of India's brightest cricket prospects, Wimbledon offered a different sporting environment. Sooryavanshi said he had wanted to watch the championship final in person and enjoyed observing how elite tennis players handled the pressure of a major final.
He said the experience extended beyond simply watching the match.
The teenager also attracted attention with a formal new look at the event. Asked about his outfit, Sooryavanshi admitted there had been little planning behind it and credited India teammate Abhishek Sharma for helping him prepare at short notice.
"Of course, I wanted to watch the finals match. It's my first experience watching live, and it's been good to see how the players approach a final."
Djokovic Still Leads His Tennis Favourites
Although Sooryavanshi is establishing himself in cricket, he revealed that he has followed professional tennis closely for several years.
The left-handed batter said he regularly watched Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic growing up and described Djokovic as the player he admires most today. According to Sooryavanshi, both former rivals shaped his interest in tennis over the past four to five years.
He also acknowledged the impact of the younger generation, naming Carlos Alcaraz as his favourite among today's emerging stars. However, with Alcaraz absent from this year's Wimbledon final, Sooryavanshi said he had been impressed by Jannik Sinner's performances throughout the tournament and hoped the Italian would complete the title run.
Speaking about his tennis preferences, he said:
"I have been following tennis for the last four to five years. I used to watch Nadal and Djokovic a lot. Now I am a big fan of Djokovic. But both of them are players I have always followed closely."
He added:
"I really like Carlos Alcaraz among the current generation of tennis players, but he is not playing this year. As I followed the tournament, I was impressed by how Jannik Sinner dominated. So hopefully he will go on to win the final today."
Cricket Partnership Inspires His Doubles Choice
The conversation also turned to a light-hearted question about tennis doubles.
Asked which Indian teammate he would choose as a doubles partner, Sooryavanshi selected Abhishek Sharma, pointing to the understanding they have developed while opening the batting together in international cricket.
He explained that their partnership on the cricket field made Abhishek the natural choice for a tennis court as well.
The teenager also thanked his opening partner for helping him arrange a suit before attending the Wimbledon final, saying he had relied on Abhishek because everything happened quickly.
What This Means
Sooryavanshi's appearance at Wimbledon reflects the growing crossover between cricket and tennis, with Indian cricketers increasingly becoming regular guests at Grand Slam events. The teenager's admiration for Djokovic and Nadal also highlights the influence elite athletes from other sports continue to have on emerging cricket stars.
For Sooryavanshi, the visit comes during a landmark year in which he has rapidly become one of India's most talked-about young cricketers. His first Wimbledon experience offered a chance to step away from cricket while gaining a closer look at another sport's biggest occasion.
The 15-year-old is expected to return to cricket duties following his appearance in London, while Wimbledon 2026 concluded with Jannik Sinner facing Alexander Zverev in the men's singles final.