Cristiano Ronaldo names Novak Djokovic among athletes that inspire him

Novak Djokovic also billed Cristiano Ronaldo as his inspiration at the Six Kings Slam.

During his recent interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo named 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, along with two other athletes, as his biggest inspirations.

Morgan asked Cristiano Ronaldo about the players who motivated him the most. The Portuguese attacker started by naming NBA superstar LeBron James and lauded the Los Angeles Lakers forward for his longevity. Ronaldo then named his former Real Madrid teammate, Luka Modric, as another motivation.

The third name he took was Djokovic. He said, “In basketball, LeBron James, I think we are the same age, I have more hair than him… but I think he’s good because he still plays basketball and is in good shape. Modric, still looking good, Djokovic as well.”

During the 2025 Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, the Serbian tennis star also named Ronaldo as his inspiration. The Serb lauded the 40-year-old for working hard and performing well while competing against younger athletes.

Reacting to Djokovic’s admission, the five-time Ballon d’Or champion said, “Of course, I think it’s good when you have other sports, other people, they speak good about your name. It means a lot, and Novak (Djokovic) is an example of greatness in a sport. He inspires me. I thank him for his kind words.”

Also Read: Rafael Nadal reflects on his rivalry against Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic: ‘Pushed me to my limits all these years’

Djokovic has been consistently performing on the tour, reaching the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams in 2025. The Serbian tennis star has been competing against the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the top level, in Grand Slams as well as Masters events.

Last year, he won his long-awaited Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games after beating six-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz. Earlier this year, he won the Geneva Open, his 100th ATP Tour title and also won the maiden ATP 250 event in Athens.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram