Novak Djokovic Completely Identifies with Jannik Sinner: “Like Me, He’s Never Satisfied”

The youngster with whom Novak Djokovic identifies the most, unsurprisingly, is Jannik Sinner. The Italian ace, thanks to his game style, has earned the tag of Djokovic 2.0.

They have already met twice this season, both in Grand Slam semifinals. Djokovic first broke his five-match losing streak at the Australian Open with a five-set win, shocking the tennis world.

Sinner got his revenge with a straight-set win at Wimbledon before defeating Alexander Zverev to defend his title. Djokovic sees a lot of himself in the mentality of the five-time Grand Slam champion.

Both of us come from the mountains, he from South Tyrol and I from Serbia. We had chosen skiing as our sport, we left home at 13, we were forced to become men in a hurry, far from family and loved ones. There’s no doubt that skiing gave us the elasticity, the movements, the ability to glide on any surface: the flexibility of the ankles originates from the snow just as much as the balance and coordination between upper and lower limbs.

Novak Djokovic said (H/T: Corriere della Sera)

Sinner has a 7-5 head-to-head edge over the 24-time Grand Slam champion. The Cincinnati Masters is underway. Sinner skipped it to nurse a knee injury, while Djokovic suffered an opening-round exit.

Jannik, like me, is never satisfied. He has the champion’s mentality, he’s always had it. He’s a dominant force, yet he wakes up every morning with the desire to be better than the day before. And, believe me, there’s no victory that can satisfy that hunger, not even 24 Slam titles. Beyond tennis, it’s the character aspect that draws me closest to Sinner.

Novak Djokovic added

Djokovic will next play at the US Open. He will first compete in mixed doubles along with Aryna Sabalenka. Last year in singles, he lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the semifinals.

Novak Djokovic opens up about his retirement plans

Novak Djokovic has time and again talked about his plans of calling time on his legendary career at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Djokovic will be 41 in 2028.

Due to his age, he is just a shadow of his former self. Although he is making deep runs in Grand Slams, he hasn’t yet tasted glory at this level since the 2023 US Open. The last major title he lifted was the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

I think it’s both a dream and a goal, but also a desire, a wish. I have said several times in recent years that I would like to play until the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. I believe I can achieve it. We will see; it depends on my physical condition and many different factors. I do not play regularly anymore; I do not participate in many tournaments these days, far from what I did for 20 years.

Novak Djokovic told SPORT

And what after retirement? Djokovic will then have a lot of time on his hands, and he will want to spend it with his family, fully dedicate himself to different roles, and develop other interests.

Djokovic has played six tournaments so far this season. Apart from the first three Majors, he competed at the Indian Wells Masters, the Italian Open, and the Cincinnati Masters. At the French Open, Joao Fonseca was the reason behind his third-round exit.

Nole last won a title at the 2025 Hellenic Championships. Since winning his 24th Major at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has played three Grand Slam finals (2026 Australian Open, 2023 Wimbledon, and 2024 Wimbledon).

Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Reveals the Importance of TikTok to Connect With New Tennis Generations