Goran Ivanisevic believes Jannik Sinner as the player who could prove to be a real threat for his charge Novak Djokovic and cause problems for the Serbian in the last years of his glorious career.
Despite the ‘big opponent’ remarks about the promising Italian, the Croat highlighted Carlos Alcaraz as still the primary challenger against the 24-time Major Champion.
Djokovic maintains a 3-0 clean sheet against Sinner, having faced the 22-year-old at least once in the last three seasons. In their first encounter in Monte Carlo Masters back in 2021, the Serbian won in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). This was followed by the pair once again going head-to-head at the 2022 Wimbledon quarterfinal where an inexperienced Sinner blow out a two set lead and allowed Djokovic to come from behind to win in 5 sets 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
For a trilogy, the duo once again met at SW19 this year in the final four with the world #1 earning a 6-3, 6-4 , 7-6(4) straight set triumph against the Italian.
Sinner is about to wrap up a very successful 2023 campaign as holds a 51-14 record and clinched three titles in Montpellier, Toronto and Beijing. The #4 won the biggest title of his career at the Canadian Open – his maiden Masters 1000 to date. He then edged past Grigor Dimitrov, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev for another impressive title run.
The World No. 4 is currently active at the Vienna Open where he has qualified for the quarters and will face Frances Tiafoe on Friday.
Speaking to Sportske, Ivanisevic who won the Wimbledon in 2001, marked the ATP stars who can cause problems for his 36-year-old charge.
“It will stay that way (Alcaraz being top of Djokovic’s list of rivals). There are other good tennis players, especially Daniil Medvedev, and Novak’s big opponent could be the Italian Jannik Sinner, who also knows how to get into a crisis, but it seems that he absolutely does not suit Alcaraz, and Novak could also have problems with him,” said the Croatian.
“Although it is actually too difficult a word and as long as the relations in men’s tennis are like this, it is difficult to see someone who could compete with Djokovic for a position in the world rankings for a long time.”
Djokovic who is once again looking to finish the season World No. 1, defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the 2023 US Open final last month to win a fourth title at Flushing Meadows. The Serbian has won three of the four majors his year and was just one set away to complete a career slam at Wimbledon where he lost a 5-set epic final to Alcaraz.
Having won 12 GS titles in 30 and having a 12-3 Majors final record after turning 30, Djokovic at the moment is a clear favorite to end the year as ATP #1 as he enters the ATP Paris Masters scheduled to get underway next week.