“Tennis needs him,” says Sinner, responding to Djokovic’s farewell comments
Jannik Sinner paid a heartfelt tribute to Novak Djokovic after eliminating the 24-time Grand Slam champion from Roland-Garros, and learning that it might have been Djokovic’s final appearance at the tournament.
Sinner – Djokovic, Roland-Garros semi-final | © Photo Dante Badano / PSNewz
“Oh, I didn’t know.” That was Jannik Sinner’s spontaneous reaction to a question about the possibility of Novak Djokovic having played his last match at Roland-Garros.
“We hope that it’s not the case, because I feel like tennis needs him in a way, because having someone different than the younger guys — from my point of view, it’s so nice and amazing to see him in the locker room, and then having this energy of everything. I saw him practicing yesterday, you know, or a couple of days ago. You know, he’s very precise in everything he does. It’s a true role model for all of us.”
Sinner added that he was strongly influenced by the 24-time Slam winner. “I learned many things from him, because I was lucky enough to practice with him when I was very young in Monaco. Every time when I asked questions, he answered me, you know, in a very honest way.”
Sinner : “People don’t see how he really is”
“People don’t see how he really is. People who don’t know him have a different picture of him. He’s a very kind person. He’s very helpful in times when you need.”
Often referred to as “Djokovic 2.0” by pundits — including Tennis Majors co-founder Patrick Mouratoglou — Sinner was asked whether he sees similarities between his game and Djokovic’s. “We are different, but at times similar,” the Italian added. “So I have watched a lot of his videos. He’s very important for me as a player and also as a person.”
Djokovic had offered a detailed and generous portrait of Sinner just before the Italian’s press conference:
“Jannik is the kind of player who loves to play at a very fast pace the entire match. He’s very physical. He’s very fit, and he’s striking the ball incredibly well. He seems to be always in good timing. Rarely he’s off-balance, and he’s just playing the tennis of his life.”
“I thought I played probably the best tennis of the entire match in the third. And just in important moments he came up with the right play and right mentality, and you have to congratulate him. That’s it. He was definitely the better player tonight.”
“I really appreciate his kind words, because it means that I’m most improving as a player, which as I said before, is the most important,” Sinner replied.
“If that’s really his last match here, I’m happy to be part of this, because it’s a part of history also. But let’s hope that’s not the case, no? He said ‘maybe’.”
