Jannik Sinner hits a gorgeous sliding backhand down the line passing shot against Novak Djokovic. Very Djokovic-esque. Novak applauds. Let’s call it what it is… This was foxy. 🇮🇹🦊
"It's not nice to call them kids": Novak Djokovic defends Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune
ATPSaturday, 18 November 2023 at 22:30
Novak
Djokovic responded to a journalist who referred to Jannik Sinner and Holger
Rune as "kids" before their ATP Finals match.
The world
No. 1 had to wait until the last minute to find out if he would advance to the
ATP Finals semifinals. The Serbian secured a hard-fought victory over Holger
Rune (7-6, 6-7, 6-3), lost to the local Jannik Sinner (5-7, 7-6, 6-7), and
ultimately defeated the alternate Hubert Hurkacz (7-6, 4-6, 6-1). The final
group match featured Rune and Sinner, with the Danish player vying for the
opportunity to advance and potentially eliminate Djokovic. However, Sinner
secured the top spot in the group by defeating Rune (6-2, 5-7, 6-4).
During the
press conference after the Djokovic-Hurkacz match, a journalist asked the
24-times Grand Slam champion what he expected from the match between
"kids." Djokovic did not appreciate the way the question was
formulated.
“Talking
about kids, I think the feeling that they are chasing you, these kids. Now is
different compare this moment to the past (…) Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner are
very, very good and correct players. Which sort of battle do you expect
tonight?,” the journalist asked.
“Well, I
think it’s not nice to call them kids because they are not kids. They are above
18, so you’re officially not a kid anymore,” Djokovic started.
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“The field
is strong. I mean, the generation of Alcaraz, Rune, Sinner is very strong. It’s
probably the three players that will carry this sport in the future but also in
the present because they are right at the top of the game, all of them,” he
added.
“Of course,
it’s expected for young players to be hungry, to be motivated, and to
constantly look for ways to improve, get stronger, faster, better, so they can
beat the players, best players in the world, and clinch some, yeah, biggest
trophies in the game.
The match
ended in favor of Sinner, who now has four consecutive victories in the Finals
after defeating Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals and reaching the tournament
final. On Djokovic's side, he is in the semifinals and will be part of an
eagerly anticipated clash against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, aiming for the
second spot in the tournament final.
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