Jannik Sinner has been on an amazing run of form this season. The Italian has now earned a career-best season of 59 match wins, the most by an Italian in the Open Era and a 10-5 record against the Top 10. The 22-year-old star defeated world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the Miami Open and China Open and world no. 3 Daniil Medvedev in the finals in Beijing and Vienna Open.
Yesterday, the youngster ended Novak Djokovic’s 19-match winning streak, which dates back to his Cincinnati title run. However, Tim Henman believes Djokovic is relishing his role as the bad boy of tennis.
British tennis legend taken aback by Djokovic’s demeanor
Booed by fans, Novak Djokovic lost an epic battle to Jannik Sinner and Tim Henman believes that the Serbian took the animosity from the crowd too much. In what has become the theme of the 2023 tennis season, Djokovic came under fire from the fans as he responded by conducting the jeers, holding his hand to his ear and seemingly enjoying the moment.
It was a high-quality match that rarely dropped in it’s intensity from first to last, with Djokovic appearing to enjoy the criticism that was coming his way. And the British legend believes that Djokovic got distracted by negative fans over the course of his career, but he appeared to be eager to take them on in recent months and he followed that trend against Sinner.
“Sometimes when Djokovic starts taking on a crowd, it is with much more animosity than he showed here,” said Henman. “Here, he looked like he was enjoying it. Maybe it is a reflection of him ending the year as world No 1 whatever. He was the conductor. Trying to orchestrate the crowd. It seemed he was in good spirits, but he will be disappointed to lose this match.”
Henman went on to suggest Sinner will take a lot from his first win against Djokovic, as his confidence is certain to be boosted. “It was an amazing night,” added Henman. “Sinner absolutely delivered. I’m so pleased for him, these Italian fans and this event that he managed to come through. It could be a major turning point. He served so well and did such a good job in the deciding tie-break.”
Djokovic find positivity despite defeat to Sinner
Jannik Sinner defeated world no. 1 Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) in the second Green Group match at the Nitto ATP Finals. Novak Djokovic accepted the defeat and was proud that he fought to the last, greeting the Italian home favorite with a warm embrace at the net.
“You have to just congratulate him. He just played a fantastic match,” Novak Djokovic said. “That’s what I told him at the net. I think in the most important moments, he played his best game and he absolutely deserved to win.”
Novak Djokovic’s succumbed to defeat by the jeers and boos by the Italian crowd’s constant support for Sinner. But Djokovic is used to playing with a proverbial target on his back.
“It’s normal to lose some of the matches like this, but I have to be content with the fight and the fighting spirit,” Djokovic added. “I managed to make a comeback from a set down, a break down in the third set, playing in really challenging and difficult conditions on the court today. I’m proud of the fight that I put in. It just wasn’t enough for the win.”
Meanwhile, with Stefanos Tsitsipas injured, it will be an easy ride for Novak Djokovic when they meet in the final group game. Also, fans are hoping Djokovic puts the Sinner setback aside and focuses on the title.
