Novak Djokovic (via AP )Novak Djokovic believes tennis must change if it wants to attract more young fans. After winning his first-round match at Wimbledon 2026, the Serbian star said the ATP and WTA Tours should consider making regular matches shorter. He feels modern audiences have shorter attention spans and often do not want to watch matches that last for several hours.Djokovic explained that he supports changes for ATP and WTA events but not for Grand Slam tournaments. He also looked ahead to his second-round Wimbledon clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where the two rivals will meet on grass for the first time in their careers.Novak Djokovic wants shorter tour matches but no changes to Grand SlamsNovak Djokovic believes tennis needs to adapt to the changing interests of sports fans, especially younger viewers. Speaking after his first-round victory at Wimbledon 2026, the Serbian legend said the current format of many ATP and WTA Tour matches is too long for today’s audience.Djokovic recalled research carried out by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). He said the study showed that the average tennis fan around the world is around 61 years old. While he respects loyal supporters of the sport, he believes tennis must do more to bring in younger generations.According to Djokovic, many young people are willing to watch Grand Slam matches because they are major events. However, they are unlikely to spend four or five hours watching tennis regularly throughout the season. He believes modern fans usually prefer shorter and faster entertainment.The former World No. 1 said the ATP and WTA Tours should think about introducing more dynamic formats. He suggested that reducing the length of matches could make tournaments more exciting and easier for younger audiences to follow. In his view, tennis needs to respond to changing viewing habits if it wants to continue growing around the world.At the same time, Djokovic made it clear that he does not want the Grand Slam tournaments to follow the same path. He believes the majors are unique because of their history and tradition. He indicated that the best-of-five-set format still has an important place in Grand Slam tennis and should remain unchanged. Instead, he feels the regular tour events offer more room for experimentation.Djokovic also reflected on the need for tennis officials to consider these ideas seriously. He believes the sport cannot ignore the way audiences consume entertainment today. While no major format changes are currently planned, he hopes discussions continue in the future.On the court, Djokovic had to work hard to reach the second round at Wimbledon. China’s Wu Yibing pushed the seven-time Wimbledon champion to four sets before Djokovic secured the victory.Djokovic will now face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round. The two players have met 14 times before, with Djokovic winning 12 of those matches, including the 2021 French Open final and the 2023 Australian Open final. This will be the first time they play each other on grass.