Former Russian tennis player Nikolay Davydenko believes Italy’s Jannik Sinner still lacks ‘something’ before he can outland the current world number one Novak Djokovic.
The 22-year-old is regarded as one the most highly-rated young players currently playing in the circuit alongside Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and America’s Ben Shelton. Davydenko was recently quoted in a report where he highlighted where Sinner is still lacking.
1 - Jannik Sinner has claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 title. Sinner is only the second Italian to do so since the format began in 1990 and the first on hard court, with Fabio Fognini winning on clay - Monte-Carlo 2019. Maiden. #NBO23 | @NBOtoronto @atptour @ATPMediaInfo
“I saw live how he plays and trains, he is really a great worker. He is also trying to change his game. He slides, moves well, is physically strong and stable. He’s fantastic at this and I think that if his level continues like this, it will surely help improve on his results from 2023.
“But he still lacks something and it is difficult to endure an entire season relying only on willpower. He can produce a great tournament, a great match, but to last the whole season like Djokovic he has to be able to do something else. Maybe something psychological."
Sinner had a fabulous year at the highest level, especially in the second half where he played a key role in helping Italy in securing the Davis Cup title for the first time in more than four decades.
During the same period, the current world number four managed to defeat Djokovic twice in one week. One of those victories came in the semifinal of the Davis Cup where Sinner managed to save three match points.
