Former tennis star Jimmy Connors has was warned to not write off Novak Djokovic following the 10-time Australian Open Champion’s loss to an in form Jannik Sinner in the semifinals at Melbourne Park.
The 71-year-old legend of the game has suggested that young guns like Sinner and Daniil Medvedev are smelling the blood now and believe their time has come. Djokovic was handed an emphatic loss in four sets by 22-year-old Sinner in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open last month to end Serbian’s 33-match winning streak.
It was Djokovic’s first defeat at the Melbourne hardcourts since 2018 and after the win Sinner went on claim his first Major crown by beating Daniil Medvedev in a five-set enthralling final. Appearing on the latest episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, 8-time GS Champion Connors, lauded Sinner and Medvedev for their outstanding performances in Grand Slams, but pressed that discounting Djokovic would not be wise.
“What I like about Medvedev and I like about Sinner – seems like these young guys now are starting to step up. I know [Roger] Federer is gone and [Rafael] Nadal has reached another rough patch, he’s gotten injured again – and what the future holds for him, you don’t know,” the former World No.1 said.
“But ‘Djoker’ still being around and still trying to set records and put his reputation on the line and everything, it seems these young guys are saying now that, ‘Hey, maybe it is our turn.’ And you know, Federer is gone and Nadal is hurt, but ‘Djoker’ is still in there grinding.
“But on the other hand, don’t count him out, because he seems to always find a way to find something to inspire him, to motivate him. You know, to get him back on his game, to get him back on track. So, he’s got those few years on him and that happens to everybody.
“I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m saying he’ll find a way to use whatever he can to get back on track and to win a French or win a Wimbledon or a US Open before this year’s out.
“So all this does is set up another good rivalry in tennis (between Djokovic and Sinner) – and it’s needed. It’s needed, the old and the young. Who’s gonna come out on top? This time Sinner did, what’s gonna happen next time? Can’t wait to see that, said the 109-time titlist”
The American also explained why the minus Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, Australian Open men’s final was good for the future of tennis.
“Obviously, they’ve ruled the Grand Slams the last 15 years between the three of them and to have a final where neither one of those three were there just created a little more interest and got some other people watching. Tennis needs that also.
“They (fans) love their champions and they love the winners and those who have set the records and all that. But they also wanna know, when those guys are gone, who is gonna take their place? And I think they’re seeing that now. They’ve had a good view of the young guys coming up.”