Goran Ivanisevic Compares Jannik Sinner to Novak Djokovic After Joao Fonseca Calls Him Robot: “Bites Like a Shark and Devours You”

World No.2 Jannik Sinner needs just one more match win to complete the Sunshine Double.

Goran Ivanisevic Compares Jannik Sinner to Novak Djokovic After Joao Fonseca Calls Him Robot: “Bites Like a Shark and Devours You”

L-R: Joao Fonseca, Jannik Sinner, Goran Ivanisevic (circle), Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis, 4K JANNIK SINNER, Punto de Break)

In Short
  • Goran Ivanisevic compares Jannik Sinner to Novak Djokovic, highlighting their similar playing styles.
  • Carlos Alcaraz suffered an early exit in the Miami Open, losing to Sebastian Korda.
  • Ivanisevic believes only Djokovic can challenge Alcaraz and Sinner in Grand Slam events.

In his assessment of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Joao Fonseca said the former has more arsenal than the Italian. Like many, even the Brazilian has called the World No.2 a “robot” that does everything perfectly.

The Miami Open is underway, and many had predicted that Fonseca wouldn’t be able to reach the third round because up against him in the second round was the seven-time Grand Slam champion. Before his defeat to Alcaraz, Fonseca lost to eventual winner Sinner in the fourth round of Indian Wells.

In those two matches, the 19-year-old clashed with the top two players for the first time on the tour. Alcaraz, for the second consecutive season, suffered an early exit in Miami. In the third round, Sebastian Korda knocked him out in three sets.

Sinner, on the other hand, is on the verge of completing the Sunshine Double. After defeating Alexander Zverev, Sinner has scheduled his match in the title clash against Jiri Lehecka, who knocked out Arthur Fils, stopping him from reaching another final this year.

Fils is currently working with Novak Djokovic‘s former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and reached his first final under him at the Qatar Open, losing the match to Alcaraz. The Croatian coach, during his interview with Sportklub, gave his take on Fonseca’s comment about the difference between Sinner and Alcaraz.

I’ve followed Sinner since he was a junior, and I like him a lot as a person and as a tennis player. Alcaraz is more versatile; he enjoys tennis, he laughs… I always compare Sinner to Novak; they’re more similar, only Sinner now has more power, a better engine, tires, rims, all that. When he gets a hold of you, he bites like a shark; he devours you. Alcaraz plays, he goes up and down… It’s great that they’re different, and their matches are incredible, as the final in Paris last year showed, where people didn’t say a word for five and a half hours.

Ivanisevic parted ways with Djokovic in 2024 and joined Elena Rybakina‘s team, but left her team after her Australian Open exit last year. After a brief partnership with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ivanisevic joined Fils’ team and guided him to his final since October 2024, and his first Masters 1000 semifinal at the Miami Open.

Goran Ivanisevic thinks only Novak Djokovic can defeat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in Grand Slam events

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner won the last nine Grand Slam titles. This year’s Australian Open saw Novak Djokovic stop them from facing each other for the fourth consecutive time in major finals.

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner
L-R: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Todo Sobre Tenis, The Tennis Letter)

This only proved one thing: in the biggest events, Alcaraz and Sinner need to be wary of the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Goran Ivanisevic, during that aforementioned interview with Sportklub, said only his former protege can challenge the dominance of Alcaraz and Sinner in the Majors.

Last year, we got used to seeing them in many finals, but if we analyze the major tournaments, when they meet, one or the other wins. Essentially, the situation hasn’t changed. They’ve lost some matches—Alcaraz, especially in best-of-three-set tournaments—but I don’t consider it a crisis. In Grand Slams, I still believe only Djokovic can beat them, although beating both in less than two days is extremely difficult.

If Sinner defeats Jiri Lehekca in the Miami Open final, he will close the rankings gap between him and Alcaraz. The clay swing will be crucial for Alcaraz because he has 4,300 points to defend thanks to his title victories at the Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, and the French Open last year. Sinner doesn’t have any points to defend until Rome.

Also read: Goran Ivanisevic Speaks on the Lack of Finals Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2026