Novak Djokovic on Jannik Sinner: "His current level doesn't surprise me at all"

Novak Djokovic has had a more than complicated 2024 season but he has achieved the only thing left to win in his legendary career: the Olympic gold. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the Serb explains what it meant to finally win for Serbia at the Games and what he thought of Jannik Sinner's incredible year.

The Serbian speaks openly in statements collected from Puntodebreak:

Olympic gold at last: "The Olympic gold is an important achievement also because it is the only title won this season. But it's also what I had identified as most important at the beginning of the year. The gold was a dream, therefore a priority. It has been my great ambition for many years, despite the failed attempts, with the three lost semifinals and the bronze in my first participation in 2008. So I told myself that, at 37, it was perhaps the last chance to hang this medal around my neck, especially at Roland Garros, a court that is very familiar to me. After the knee operation and the final at Wimbledon I felt ready and I think I proved it with my performance at the Olympic Games. All in all, I have made a dream come true and it is definitely one of the best moments, if not the best of my career."

Jannik Sinner's incredible year: "First of all, I love Italy. After Serbian and English I wanted to learn the language, thanks also to my former coach Riccardo Piatti, who also followed Jannik as a child. I remember Sinner when I was 14 or 15 years old and we already spoke well of him then. It was clear that he would have a great career because he already had the right mentality and focus. I'm not surprised to see him at this level today after following him closely all these years, watching the way he plays and the way he structures himself. And the fact that he is working with Darren Cahill, someone who has already followed many number ones, can only be a great help to him. Also, I like Jannik because he always wants to improve."

Advice to Sinner: "I think he is doing well even without my advice. However, it's one thing to win the first two Slams and become number one and another thing to stay at that level for many years. To do that, you first need to surround yourself with a competent team that you can trust. You also need to strike the right balance between your professional and personal life. But at the end of the day, we are all different in an individual sport. So what works for me may not necessarily work for him. However, it seems to me that Jannik has understood what he needs. The next goal will be to find the right formula to invest in the best way in his body to prevent injuries, stay healthy, motivated and, above all, passionate about tennis."