On July 7, at Wimbledon 2025’s Centre Court, tennis star Novak Djokovic beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur to reach the quarterfinals. The match had many famous faces watching, including Indian cricket star Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma.
Also in the crowd were England cricket players Joe Root and James Anderson, West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, and tennis great Roger Federer. Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket and is now in London, was very impressed by Djokovic’s performance.
After the match, the Indian star posted on Instagram to praise the Serbian player. He said, “What a match. The gladiator was at his best again. @djokernole.” Djokovic saw Kohli’s message, shared it on his own story, and replied, “Thank you for the support.”
“Virat Kohli and I Have Been Messaging for Years,” Says Djokovic
After the match, Djokovic talked about his friendship with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. He said they have messaged each other a few times and have a lot of respect for each other.
“Virat and I have been texting for a few years, but we haven’t met in person yet. It was a great honor to hear him say nice things about me. I really admire his career and all he has achieved. I’ve started playing cricket myself — I’m not very good at it yet, but cricket is a huge sport in both Australia and India. I guess I need to practice more before I visit India so I don’t embarrass myself,” Djokovic said with a smile.
In the match, Djokovic lost the first set 1-6 but came back strong, winning the next three sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The game lasted more than three hours. This win was his 101st at Wimbledon and brought him just three wins away from breaking the record with his 25th Grand Slam title.
FAQ
What did Virat Kohli say about Novak Djokovic?
Virat Kohli praised Novak Djokovic by calling him a “Gladiator,” highlighting Djokovic’s toughness, determination, and fighting spirit on the tennis court.
How did Novak Djokovic respond to Kohli’s praise?
Novak Djokovic publicly thanked Virat Kohli for the kind words and expressed his respect for Kohli as a great athlete.
Why did Kohli choose the word “Gladiator” to describe Djokovic?
Kohli used “Gladiator” to emphasize Djokovic’s resilience, mental strength, and ability to overcome tough challenges, much like a warrior in battle.
Are Novak Djokovic and Virat Kohli friends?
While not close personal friends, both athletes share mutual respect and admiration for each other’s achievements and work ethic.
Has Kohli praised other tennis players before?
Kohli occasionally comments on athletes from other sports but his praise for Djokovic stood out because of the strong and powerful analogy.