Novak Djokovic has playfully claimed he is owed royalties from Carlos Alcaraz after the young Spaniard unveiled a new service motion at the Australian Open that bears an uncanny resemblance to his own. The world number one joked he had immediately contacted his rival to discuss a 'copyright' agreement following his opening round victory on Monday 19 January 2026.
The Serve That Sparked a Joking 'Legal' Dispute
Following a straight-sets win over Pedro Martinez to begin his campaign, Djokovic revealed his swift reaction to seeing Alcaraz's adjusted serve. "As soon as I saw it, I sent him a message," the 24-time Grand Slam champion stated. "I said, we have to speak about the copyrights. Then when I saw him here, I told him we have to talk about percentage of his winnings. Every ace I expect a tribute to me. Let's see if he's going to stick to the agreement."
Alcaraz, who secured his sixth major title at the US Open in September with a powerful serve, has continued to refine his technique during the off-season. When questioned about the obvious parallels with Djokovic's distinctive 'cobra' position before the tournament, the 22-year-old admitted the likeness was clear.
Alcaraz's Take on the Similar Serve
"I wasn't thinking about making the same serve as Djokovic," Alcaraz explained. "But in the end, I can even see the similarities." He emphasised that the new motion was about personal comfort and rhythm, not imitation. "Now with this movement on the serve, I just feel really, really comfortable, smooth, really calm and peaceful rhythm, which I think it helps me a lot to do a better serve."
Known for his constant evolution, Alcaraz hinted further changes could be on the horizon. "Let's see how it's going to be this year. Probably you're going to see another change, I don't know if the next months or at the end of the year. I just make constant changes in every shot. It's just about really small details."
Australian Open Paths and Potential Showdown
The light-hearted exchange comes as both champions navigate their separate paths through the Australian Open draw. Alcaraz, who recently split with long-term coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, began his tournament with a straight-sets win on Sunday.
In a twist of fate, the two stars have been placed on opposite sides of the draw. This sets up the tantalising possibility of a final clash, but Djokovic may first have to overcome the significant challenge of defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals. The playful 'copyright' banter adds an extra layer of intrigue to their potential meeting, highlighting the mutual respect and competitive spirit defining this new era of tennis rivalry.
