Novak Djokovic Recalls Iconic ‘Not Too Bad’ Comment During Laureus 2026 Opening Speech

Novak Djokovic has won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award on five occasions, most recently in 2024.

Novak Djokovic Recalls Iconic ‘Not Too Bad’ Comment During Laureus 2026 Opening Speech

Novak Djokovic (via X/Laureus/DjokoUTD)

In Short
  • Novak Djokovic co-hosted the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid alongside Eileen Gu.
  • He presented the Sportsman Award to Carlos Alcaraz and the Sports Inspiration Award to Toni Kroos.
  • Djokovic is currently sidelined due to an injury and hopes to return before the Roland Garros tournament.

Novak Djokovic was among the two most decorated athletes in history that co-host the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards. The Serbian legend, who has won the Sportsman of the Year award five times in his career, was with Eileen Gu at the podium during the Laureus Awards in Madrid on Monday (April 20).

The Olympic gold medalist presented retired Footballer and Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos the prestigious Sports Inspiration Award. The award recognizes the former German player’s illustrious achievements in sports, which include the 2014 World Cup and six UEFA Champions League titles.

Djokovic also presented Carlos Alcaraz with the Sportsman Award for his incredible season on tour last year. Alcaraz dominated the men’s circuit in 2025, winning eight titles, including two Grand Slams, and finished the year as World No.1. He also claimed his Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January after beating Djokovic in the final.

Tennis legend Djokovic first won the Sportsman Award in 2012 after winning three Grand Slams, stunning his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He last won the title in 2024 following his outstanding achievement on tour, winning three Grand Slams, which took his tally to 24 major titles on tour, the highest by any men’s player.

Djokovic co-hosts the event alongside freestyle skiing icon Gu, who is a six-time Olympic medalist and won the 2023 Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year. During the opening speech, Gu praised Djokovic by declaring he’s the greatest of all time player (GOAT) after reading his achievements. Djokovic replied by introducing the meaning of the award:

Not too bad. Not too bad. Now, you and I know how special the Laureus Award is. All the athletes wants to win it. When you do, you are not just on top of your game, but on top of the world because the jurors is made up of living legends and the magnificent academy members and they have done special thing in the sport and they set the standards.

Djokovic and Gu presented Aryna Sabalenka with the Sportswoman Award, making sure that tennis stars claim both the men’s and women’s awards. Lorenzo Musetti, Jannik Sinner, Jasmine Paolini, Amanda Anisimova, and Alexandra Eala were spotted at the award ceremony in Madrid ahead of the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event in the Spanish capital.

Novak Djokovic hopes to be back on the court before Roland Garros

Novak Djokovic will be absent at the Madrid Open due to an unconfirmed injury. The former World No.1 is yet to play a competitive match since losing to Jack Draper in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters. He pulled out of the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters before doing the same at the Madrid Open.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/#AusOpen)

Following his withdrawal, there are concerns that he might not play in any tournament before the Roland Garros next month. The last big event before the Roland Garros is the Italian Open, but he could still play at the Geneva Open like he did last year, which starts just a week before the French Open. Speaking to journalists at the Laureus Awards, he admitted that he hopes to be back before the Roland Garros:

I have an injury, I hope to be ready at least for Roland Garros. I’m working to get to Rome but I can’t make a prediction now because it depends on the progress of the injury. At least for Roland Garros I’m ready.

With Djokovic out, Carlos Alcaraz is also not going to feature at the tournament. The Spaniard sustained a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open and may miss the upcoming Italian Open. This gives Jannik Sinner a chance to win the tournament as he’s the top seed and the only player in form in the draw list.

Also Read: Boris Becker Compares Carlos Alcaraz’s Physical Strain to Jannik Sinner’s Efficiency on Tour