Warning issued to 'older and slower' Novak Djokovic by Henri Leconte amid rise of Sinner and Alcaraz
ATPTuesday, 09 April 2024 at 13:40
Former French Open runner-up Henri Leconte believes that
Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic is facing an uphill battle to
compete with the likes of Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The 36-year-old is regarded as the greatest player in the
history of men’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 24 Grand
Slams in his illustrious career. However, the 2024 season has not gone to plan
for Djokovic where he is yet to lift a silverware.
Leconte, who finished as the runner-up in the French Open in
1998 where he lost to Mats Wilander of Sweden in the final in straight sets
with a score of 7–5, 6–2, 6–1, was recently quoted in a report where he expressed
opinion about the form of the current world number one, who according to him is
becoming ‘older and slower’ and is facing a tough challenge to compete against
players like Alcaraz and Sinner.
“The ‘Next Gen’ has dominated since last year, but they must
prove that they can remain at the highest level," said Leconte "Sinner
wins and confirms with his exceptional start to the season. There’s still
Novak, but he’s older and he’s slower. He lost a little liveliness. Young
people are less afraid because they feel that it is crumbly. Slowly, everything
changes.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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