“Same qualities, but faster”. Patrick Mouratoglou calls Jannik Sinner 'Novak Djokovic 2.0'

Patrick Mouratoglou labelled Jannik Sinner as “Novak Djokovic 2.0” and analysed the traits that make him a player who has taken a Djokovic-like game to the next level. The Italian continues his hot streak, having led Italy to the Davis Cup final.

Despite nearing the year’s end, the World No. 1 shows no signs of slowing down. Sinner boasts a record-breaking 72-6 season, winning eight titles, including two Grand Slams and the recent ATP Finals just a week ago. In his last week of competition, Sinner has been pivotal in guiding Italy to the Davis Cup final, where they’ll face the Netherlands, aiming to defend their 2023 title.

For over a year, Sinner has seemed almost unstoppable, joining Carlos Alcaraz in leaving Novak Djokovic behind. This is the first year since 2002 that no member of the Big-3 has won a Grand Slam—a year when Sinner was just a toddler and Alcaraz hadn’t been born.

In a recent interview, former Serena Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou compared Sinner to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, claiming the Italian has taken Djokovic’s playing style one step further. “I think it makes sense to call him Djokovic 2.0 because his movement and counterpunching are unbelievable. Same qualities as Novak. And I think he’s 2.0 because he’s playing faster by taking the balls earlier. He’s constantly stepping up,” Mouratoglou said.

The coach, who recently partnered with Naomi Osaka for her 2025 season, also highlighted Carlos Alcaraz as Sinner’s toughest rival. The Spanish star won all three of their clashes this season. “So far, I see mostly Alcaraz beating him because Alcaraz can create more. He has that extra power and can match him in movement. But Alcaraz makes a lot of unforced errors, whereas Sinner doesn’t,” Mouratoglou said.

“The matches between them have many ups and downs, constantly shifting momentum. When Alcaraz is at his best, he can outperform Sinner, but he can’t sustain that level throughout the match. Sinner, on the other hand, remains stable, which is why their matches are always so close,” added the former coach of Simona Halep and Holger Rune.

“Sinner can hit a winner with every single shot. That’s the feeling, and it’s quite disturbing. You can never relax; you feel like you can’t build a point because you’re always in danger—always, on every shot,” Mouratoglou remarked.

“But what I think is most important isn’t just the constant threat—though that’s true—but that he does it with consistency. Everything is controlled; he maintains this level of aggressiveness with control simultaneously. That’s what makes him so special,” he concluded.