Yuvraj Singh sees himself in Novak Djokovic and explains why

"The self-belief that Djokovic carries is impeccable," says Yuvraj Singh

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh believes Novak Djokovic's greatest quality is his unwavering self-belief, drawing comparisons with his own journey back to international cricket after overcoming cancer.

Speaking to JioStar during Wimbledon 2026, Yuvraj praised Djokovic's resilience throughout his career.

"The self-belief that Djokovic carries is impeccable. Every time he didn't get the crowd's support, it only fired him up even more. There were times when people said he wouldn't be able to win, but he did," Yuvraj said.

The 2011 World Cup winner compared the Serbian's mentality with his own return to cricket after battling cancer.

"Similarly, people told me that I wouldn't be able to play after cancer, but I came back and scored my highest ODI score. The self-belief he carries, winning 24 Grand Slams, is unreal."

Yuvraj also admired Djokovic's longevity at the highest level despite the emergence of younger stars.

"He's still playing at the highest level, reaching semi-finals and finals. It's amazing that he's still going. I'm sure the next generation will learn from what he brings to the game."

The former India batter pointed to the evolution of both cricket and tennis, citing players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

"I look at the young generation here, players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and the game has become incredibly fast. If you look at Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, their game is played at such a high pace. It's great to see how the game continues to evolve."

Yuvraj also paid tribute to former England pacer Stuart Broad, reflecting on Broad's remarkable comeback after conceding six sixes to him in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

"I'm actually very proud of his journey and very motivated by the way he bounced back after those six sixes. I know I was the guy who hit him for those six sixes, but I've also been hit for five sixes, so I know how it feels, although I wasn't a full-time bowler."

"To come back from that moment and go on to take more than 600 Test wickets is remarkable. He's one of the greats of the game, and what he's achieved in cricket is tremendous. He never gave up, believed in himself, and became one of the best bowlers in the world."