India's 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walked into the Wimbledon grounds for the very first time on Sunday, accompanied by Abhishek Sharma and Yuvraj Singh. Watching the summit clash live, Sooryavanshi opened up about his love for tennis and revealed he is a massive fan of Serbian great Novak Djokovic.
Following tennis for the past five years
Speaking to Jiostar, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi explained how long he has been tracking the sport. "I've been following tennis for the past 4-5 years. I used to watch Nadal and Djokovic a lot. Now I'm a huge fan of Djokovic, but these are the two players I have always followed closely," he said. In other words, while Rafael Nadal shaped his early interest in tennis, it is Djokovic who now holds a special place for the young cricketer.
Impressed by Sinner's dominance, backing him for the title
In the men's singles final, Italy's Jannik Sinner faced Germany's Alexander Zverev for the title. Giving his take on the summit clash, Vaibhav said, "Among the current generation of tennis players, I like Carlos Alcaraz a lot, but he isn't playing this year. When I followed the tournament, I was really impressed by Jannik Sinner's dominance. So hopefully he wins the final." With Alcaraz out of the picture this year, Sooryavanshi's hopes for the trophy clearly rest on Sinner.
Abhishek Sharma is his pick for a doubles partner
When Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was asked who he would choose as his doubles partner if he ever played tennis, he did not hesitate to name Abhishek Sharma. "I would choose Abhishek bhaiya. He is my opening partner in international cricket. I enjoy batting with him a lot, so I would pick him as my doubles tennis partner too," he said. The answer reflects just how strong the on-field bond between the two opening batters has become.
Abhishek Sharma calls the Wimbledon trip a dream come true
Abhishek Sharma also shared his own experience of watching the Wimbledon 2026 final. "Coming to Wimbledon was genuinely one of my dreams. Being here on final day makes it even more special. I'm just going to enjoy the match. I have always considered Rafael Nadal my idol. His work ethic, his attitude, and the way he dominated this sport for so many years, he is definitely someone I admire a lot," he said. Nadal's discipline and dedication, Abhishek indicated, have inspired him well beyond the cricket field.
Alcaraz and Sinner offer lessons for the next generation
Abhishek Sharma also spoke about current stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. "Among the current generation of stars, I really like Alcaraz and Sinner, no doubt about it. The way they are playing right now, they are dominating this sport. I want to do exactly the same in cricket. It's great to watch them play, and it inspires young cricketers like me. I think it inspires youngsters across all sports. This is what draws us here," he said. Both Sooryavanshi and Sharma made it evident that India's young cricketers are closely watching, and learning from, the biggest names in tennis.
The Wimbledon visit underlined how young Indian cricket stars keep a close eye on sport beyond the boundary rope. While Sooryavanshi counts himself among Djokovic and Sinner's admirers, Sharma looks up to Nadal as his idol, and Yuvraj Singh's presence made the outing even more memorable for the young trio.
