“I have a lot of respect for him,” Humble Jannik Sinner denies comparisons with tennis great Novak Djokovic despite recent dip in form

Jannik Sinner's response won hearts when asked if he thinks he is the best player at the moment. 

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Humble Jannik Sinner denies comparisons with tennis great Novak Djokovic despite recent dip in form

Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz (Image via Reuters, Marca.com)

Jannik Sinner has had one of the best starts to a season in recent times. He has won three of the last five tournaments that he has played, including the Australian Open.

With a 25-2 win-loss ratio, he has proven to be a level above the others. His only losses came against Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells and Stefanos Tsitsipas at Monte Carlo, with both winning the respective tournaments.

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During a press conference before the start of the Madrid Open, the in-form Italian was asked if he thought he was the best player in the world at present. In response to this, Jannik gave a diplomatic yet humble answer, saying it wouldn’t be right if he compared himself to Djokovic and Alcaraz, who have more titles in their bags than him.

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We always look at the current moment, and sometimes that's good, and other times it's not. I don't think I can compare myself to Djokovic and everything he's done… I have a lot of respect for him, just like I have a lot of respect for Carlos, who has won more than me.
Jannik Sinner said in a post match conference

His response left many in awe of his maturity and awareness at a very young age. His humility is also reflected in his attitude during matches, as he stays calm and composed at times when questionable calls go against him.

Sinner has shown glimpses of greatness, not just in his game but also in how he carries himself, and this provides hope for a great future ahead for the star.

Madrid Open has a next-gen top seed for the second year in a row

For what seems like forever, the big four—Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray—have been at the top of the rankings ladder and any other ladder that the game had to offer. In 2022, Daniil Medvedev briefly became the only player outside the big four in over 18 years to be ranked No. 1 in the world. 

After Djokovic regained the top spot, Carlos Alcaraz, the torchbearer for the newest generation of players, had one of the best seasons as a teenager, becoming the youngest ever World No. 1. Consequently, he became the top seed at the Madrid Open last year, amidst a rankings tug of war between him and the Serb after the latter decided to skip the tournament.

In a similar turn of events, Djokovic, who is the current No. 1, announced that he would be skipping the Spanish clay court Masters this year as well. Jannik Sinner, who is now at Djokovic’s heel in the rankings table, becomes the top seed of the tournament after Djokovic’s withdrawal. 

The Madrid Open has now seen two players born after 2000 become the top seeds for the second consecutive year.

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