Aussie great rips 'stupid question' that fired up Novak Djokovic about 'chasing' young superstars

Aussie tennis great Todd Woodbridge has thrown his support behind Novak Djokovic after the 10-time Australian Open champ ripped a journalist's "stupid question".

Djokovic made it through to another semi final at Melbourne Park when his opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt from their match on Wednesday.

In his post-match press conference, a bold reporter asked the 24-time grand slam winner about how it feels to be "chasing" Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for titles, after starting his career "chasing" Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

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Sinner and Alcaraz are the best players in men's tennis currently and have 10 slams between them. Djokovic holds the record with his 24.

The Serbian superstar looked puzzled.

"I'm chasing Jannik and Carlos? In which sense?" he quizzed the reporter as the frosty exchange began.

"So I'm always the chaser and never been chased?", to which the journalist replied, "No, in the meantime you've won 24 grand slams".

Djokovic then tore the reporter's question apart.

"Thanks, it's worth saying that sometimes right?" he said.

"I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between where the times when I started 'chasing', as you say, Rafa and Roger… and now that I'm chasing Carlos and Jannik. There's probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the grand slams. I think it's important to put that in perspective.

"I don't feel like I'm chasing to be honest. Roger and Rafa will always be my greatest rivals. I have tremendous respect for what Jannik and Carlos are doing and they will continue to do for the next 10, 15, 20 years.

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"This is a kind of natural cycle in sports. You're going to have another two superstars that are going to maybe have a third guy that I'm going to cheer for, because I've always been the third guy at the beginning. It's good for our sport.

"I think these kind of rivalries and the contrast of personalities and the styles of play are very good for tennis. And how is that effecting me? I don't feel like I'm chasing. I'm creating my own history."

Speaking on Nine's The Morning Serve the following day, 22-time grand slam winner Woodbridge could only laugh at the exchange.

"What a stupid question. Seriously," Woodbridge said.

"You've got the greatest player, in terms of men's singles titles, sitting there and you pose a question like that?

"Good on him, I love (Djokovic's response). I love the body language, leaning back in his chair."

Djokovic will face two-time reigning champion Sinner in the semi finals on Friday.