“Great champions are like that,” Famous Italian coach reveals how Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic share the same principles
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic met twice in the 2024 season, with the Italian winning both of their battles.
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Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic (Images via ATP/X)
Renowned Italian coach Marco Panichi has been a big fan of Jannik Sinner since the World No. 1’s rise. In a recent podcast, he discussed how the current Australian Open champion shares similar principles with 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
Panichi stated that both Sinner and Djokovic are completely dedicated to tennis, spending every hour of the day focused on the sport. He also mentioned that their success comes from this intense commitment and planning.
Novak was someone who lived for and by tennis 24 hours a day. Jannik is exactly the same, although in a different way. Sinner is someone who lives for and by tennis, he is competitive even in training. That’s how he has fun. The great champions are like that: people who have fun doing what they do. Behind it all, there is always that pleasure in competing.
Marco Panichi said in Tressessanta podcast
Sinner and Djokovic have been two of the biggest names in the 2024 season. The Italian became the first World No. 1 from Italy, while the Serbian fulfilled his dream of winning an Olympic gold medal for Serbia. The two players faced each other twice in 2024. Sinner won both matches, including a memorable four-set victory in the Australian Open semifinals.
Jannik Sinner makes history as the World No.1 despite ban
Italian star Jannik Sinner has reached a major milestone even though he is not currently playing. The 23-year-old, alongside Carlos Alcaraz, is considered one of the best players in men’s singles. However, he is serving a three-month suspension after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Sinner tested positive for clostebol in two doping tests last March but initially avoided punishment. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) found him innocent after his team explained that the banned substance came from a cream used by a coach.
The situation worsened in October when WADA appealed the ITIA’s decision and pushed for a two-year ban. The issue was finally resolved in February when WADA and Sinner agreed on a three-month suspension, keeping him out of competition until May.
Despite missing tournaments, Sinner remains at the top of the ATP rankings. He has held the world number one spot for 42 weeks, surpassing Andy Murray’s 41-week record. His strong lead in points suggests he will still be number one when he returns. Sinner last played at the Australian Open, where he won his second title by defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic advances to the Miami quarters
Novak Djokovic claimed a solid victory over Lorenzo Musetti to advance to the Miami Open quarter-finals. The Serbian star put on a dominant performance against the Italian player.
On March 24, 2025, Djokovic won 6-2, 6-2, marking his 12th victory in their last 14 meetings. The match was delayed due to rain, and the Serb struggled early on. However, after the break, the 37-year-old found his rhythm and took full control. He played in front of a star-studded audience, which included tennis greats Juan Martin del Potro and Serena Williams.
Djokovic will now compete against American Sebastian Korda in the next round. Korda secured his place in the quarter-finals by defeating Gael Monfils 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
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