Vukic on Djokovic test: 'I'm excited to see what all the fuss is about'

ATP Tour

Aleksandar Vukic plans to treat his second-round BNP Paribas Open match Saturday like any other match. But no matter how hard the Australian tries to do so, it will still be surreal when he looks at the other side of the court and sees World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. 

“He's definitely my biggest idol and I come from a Serbian and Montenegrin heritage, which I think he does as well. So my upbringing was supporting him and the Aussies,” Vukic told ATPTour.com. “I admire what he's done. And I think he's done some sensational stuff for the sport on and off the court.”

The 27-year-old, who played college tennis at the University of Illinois, admitted he has been “a bit too nervous” to approach Djokovic and speak to him more than saying a quick hello. They have never trained together.

“That was on my bucket list,” Vukic said. “But I think this will be better.”

Since well before Djokovic became Djokovic, Vukic and his family watched the Serbian compete. But something odd happened Thursday evening after he defeated Shintaro Mochizuki in the first round at Indian Wells. He found himself on YouTube watching a clip of Djokovic training with Daniil Medvedev before the tournament.

“It was probably the first time that I've ever tried to analyse his game because he is someone I am playing. It was quite weird,” Vukic said. “Usually I'm just admiring in a way. So it's a bit more about, ‘Okay, how can I break this down? Where does he go on the big points? What is he doing?’ Doing all that, it is strange. But I think it's a challenge for any athlete to step on a court and not play to play, and play [to win] the game.”

It will be the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash, but Vukic already has the utmost respect for his opponent.

“I think there are very few holes in his game, even looking in the past 10 years at how much he's improved and minimised his weaknesses,” Vukic said. “It's kind of extraordinary for someone that's continuously won Slams to continuously improve as well and adapt to the game. So that is crazy, [as is] his mental resilience and his ability to consistently overcome these very tight situations. It's going to be a very good challenge, but I'm excited to kind of see what all the fuss is about to be honest.”

For those who will watch Vukic play for the first time, he enjoyed a breakthrough 2023 in which he made his first ATP Tour final in Atlanta, advanced to the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto as a qualifier and cracked the Top 50 of the PIF ATP Rankings.

Off court, the Australian enjoys researching finance, following the Premier League and playing chess. Vukic watches chess-related YouTube content and particularly enjoys the commentary of Daniel Naroditsky. He plays chess online, too.

“Oh, now I'm doing it quite a lot. It's made a resurgence in my life,” Vukic said. “There was a period of six months when I wasn't playing at all. But now I'm always looking at ways to get better at that as well.”

Just days ago, Vukic played chess with colleague Constant Lestienne of France.

“He got the better of me. I need a rematch man, I'm still salty about it,” Vukic said. “But I think the more I know who else is playing, I think we'll definitely get some competitions going.

“I'm like 1600 Elo for 10-minute games. I know the basics, for sure.”

The World No. 69 believes chess helps the way he thinks on court.

“Just because it really calms things down and makes it less emotional in a way because it's really just about solving on court, which is really the same as chess in a way,” Vukic said. “I think it's just solving different situations, different problems. And I think doing that makes it less emotional and they always say, those who can do the basics in the most stressful moments are usually the most successful.”

Vukic will try to find success Saturday when he takes on Djokovic and tries to secure his first Top 10 win.

“Whatever happens, I think at the end of your career you probably look back at these matches and cherish them. So this one will be one that I'll remember,” Vukic said. “Hopefully, I could put on a good showing and challenge him.”