"There are two young players two steps in ahead of everyone else": Goran Ivanisevic picks next players to dominate after Djokovic retirement
ATP
There are two players according to the coach of Novak Djokovic Goran Ivanisevic that will anchor the sport at the conclusion of the career of the great Serbian.
Jannik Sinner in particular has been singled out for praise with Ivanisevic saying that he believes he can become a dominant force in men's tennis. He sees improvement over the last year from the Italian and also a shift in mindset towards thinking he can win Grand Slams.
“I’m a big fan of Jannik. I’ve followed him since he was a junior and I have great respect for him,” Ivanisevic said to reports on Sunday.
“I like his tennis. I think with his team in the last year he has improved a lot. He improved his serve and his coming to the net. He’s playing much better volleys.”
“We saw this week (at the ATP Finals) and this year is a Jannik Sinner who unfortunately in the semifinals of Wimbledon played Novak. We saw a Jannik Sinner who can win, and he believes that he can win Grand Slams.”
But as well as Sinner, he believes that Carlos Alcaraz is the next player along and the one that alongside the Italian eclipses every other rising star on the tour.
“For me, there are two young players two steps in ahead of everyone else. One is Carlos Alcaraz. The second one is Jannik Sinner. Jannik Sinner is catching up. These two guys for me, they’re going to be future of the tennis.” he continued.
“Carlos already won two Grand Slams and he’s the future of tennis. Jannik really stepped up this year. He showed the world and himself that he’s ready next year to win Grand Slams, and he’s not afraid of anybody.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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