Novak Djokovic has folded his 2023 campaign with two defeats against Jannik Sinner in a two 2 week’s window and the former WTA star Laura Robson believes the Italian will challenge the 24-time Grand Slam champion in 2024.
Djokovic fell to the Sinner for the first time in the round-robin stage of Turin ATP Finals. He was quick to recover and serve revenge in their next face off – in the championship match of the same event – where he handed the youngster a straight-set defeat.
Yet sinner came from behind as he was three match points down at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga but held his nerve to beat the World No. 1 to eventually guide Italy to their first Davis Cup victory since 1976.
The former British No. 1 Robson has backed Sinner to gather big wins in the upcoming season. She believes the 22-year-old has upped his level to pick his maiden Grand Slam title as she also marked compatriot to make some highlights in the upcoming season.
“I’m just so excited about Sinner,” Robson told Sky Sports. “I just love his game and I think with the wins that he had at the ATP Finals and the confidence he is getting by reaching these finals, I just feel like 2024 is going to be huge for him and I don’t feel like I’m the only one who thinks like that.
“It’s an obvious opinion amongst everyone in tennis because he’s grown so much over the last two years already, but then you’ve got Britain’s Jack Draper, who we hope will stay injury free and have a huge, huge season.
“His game is electric and he’s got the huge lefty serve. I’m hopeful for him but I don’t want to jinx it.”
Despite putting her weight behind the World No. 4 sinner, Robson believes Djokovic will extend his lead in the major titles in 2024.
“It’s hard not seeing Djokovic winning at least two Grand Slams next year because you’ve got to back him on both hardcourt Slams.
“We keep talking about the new generation but Djokovic is still winning everything so the old generation is still doing very well.”
Robson also lauded the performance of 14-year-old British player Hannah Klugman, who reached the quarter-finals of the US Open junior event.
“I thought that was a really cool thing that Sky did over the US Open because I got to commentate on Hannah’s match and usually I wouldn’t see any of her matches televised or anything and it was really fun for her to come into the studio and have that experience of chatting to Gigi and everyone.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on Hannah because she’s so, so young. As long as she keeps continuing down the path that’s she’s on, she’s got a great team and her coach has done a fantastic job with her, so she’ll be one to look out for.
“I’m always glass half-full when it comes to British tennis but the hope is to watch players come through, although some people have very quick transitions through the junior level while others take longer.
“I think the perfect example of that is Carlos Alcaraz who’s gone from 100 and won a Grand Slam in his first couple of years on tour, while Sinner has been building and growing. Now you feel he’s ready mentally to do it.”
Robson will be attending to her tennis duties as a Sky Sports analyst and commentator in 2024 as the channel has earned the exclusive rights to broadcast ATP and WTA events as well as 2024 US Open.