Daijiworld Media Network - Melbourne

Melbourne, Jan 20: Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic on Monday light-heartedly claimed that World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz had “borrowed” his service motion, joking that the Spaniard now owes him a share of his winnings.

Alcaraz, who has at times struggled with consistency on serve, has tweaked his service action ahead of the season’s opening Grand Slam. Sharp-eyed fans quickly noticed that his more compact motion closely resembled that of Djokovic.

Reacting to the comparisons after cruising into the second round at Melbourne Park, Djokovic said he had already messaged the young star.

“As soon as I saw it, I sent him a message. I told him we have to speak about the copyrights. When I saw him here, I said we have to talk about a percentage of his winnings,” Djokovic told reporters.

The Serb added in jest, “Every ace I expect a tribute to me. Every ace he makes here. Let’s see if he sticks to the agreement.”

Earlier, Djokovic registered his landmark 100th Australian Open victory, dismissing Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in straight sets. He will next face Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second round.

“Great to be back once again, definitely my favourite court. Centurion is pretty nice. I always give my best; making history is a great motivation. I’m blessed to still be playing at this level,” Djokovic said.

Responding to the serve comparison, Alcaraz insisted the similarities were coincidental, though he admitted noticing them later.

“I wasn’t thinking about making the same serve as Djokovic. But in the end, I can even see the similarities,” the Spaniard said, adding that he felt flattered by the comparison.

The exchange added a touch of humour to the Australian Open, as two of the sport’s biggest stars continue their title campaigns in Melbourne.