Jannik Sinner has named Novak Djokovic as the clear favorite to win the 2024 Wimbledon Championships if he stays healthy after the surgery.
The Italian was tentative in his response when inquired if he considers himself a favorite as he made the extra pressure while playing at Halle Open as World #1.
Sinner downed Pole Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(8), 7-6(2) in the final of Halle on Sunday to seal the maiden grass court title of his career that has just started to glitter.
The 2024 Australian Open champion’s first three matches at the ATP 500 event were all three set affairs but eventually registered straight sets victories against Zhizhen Zhang and Hurkacz. Sinner who became the ATP #1 for first time in his career after Roland Garros earlier this month will enter Wimbledon as top seed.
Last year, the Italian was defeated by 7-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic in the semis of the Championships at the All England Club. Sinner also played second fiddle to the legendary Serbian in the Wimbledon quarters in 2022 after building a 2-0 sets lead.
World #3 Carlos Alcaraz is the defending Wimbledon champion who dethroned Djokovic in a 5-set Wimbledon classic last year. The 21-year-old Spaniard recently clinched his third major at French Open but got knocked out in the R2 of the Queen’s Club Championships last week.
24-time Grand Slam champion has hit a couple of sets on the practice courts at the SW19 lawns but his participation at the grass court major remains uncertain after suffering a meniscus tear at the Roland Garros earlier three months ago.
In an interview with La Repubblica, Sinner expressed how he feels heading into Wimbledon and named the favorites at the All England Club.
“I can be a little more aggressive, understand better how to move. It will be a difficult tournament, but also fun,” the world No 1
“I like Wimbledon: last year I played well and only lost in the semi-final. Let’s see what I can do this year. I will fly to London relatively soon, I hope to do a good preparation and then we will see how it goes: I will do my best.
“We are all excellent players and there can always be some surprises in a tournament like Wimbledon. So I won’t say whether I’m the favorite or not.
“Djokovic certainly is: if he comes back, if he is fit, he is clearly the favorite. Alcaraz won last year, [Alexander] Zverev is playing very well. We see. It will be a very interesting tournament.”
The 22-year-old was also asked about the experience of playing Halle Open as World No. 1.
“It was different, yes, you can feel the extra pressure,” Sinner said. “Everyone wants to beat you in every game you play because you are No 1, but then when you step onto the pitch you don’t think about it, you only think about playing and winning.
“It was difficult here against Hurkacz, it’s a surface where there are few decisive points and it’s important to win those. But in my opinion, I played an excellent match.”