Tim Henman’s surprise prediction ahead of Jannik Sinner’s showdown with Novak Djokovic
The tennis world was hoping to witness another match-up between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner at this year’s Australian Open and Tim Henman believes it could be a seminal moment for the men’s game.
Djokovic will put his 33-match unbeaten Australian Open run to the test against Sinner on Rod Laver Arena, with the match set to be played in the daytime sun
The world No 1 has not been beaten at Melbourne Park since a fourth-round loss to Chung Hyeon back in 2018, with only two opponents in the intervening six years managing to push him to five sets.
Djokovic appears to have recovered from the illness that was troubling him at the start of the fortnight, but was tested in a four-set quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz and, if anyone is going to end his streak, Sinner appears a prime candidate.
The 22-year-old beat Djokovic twice in successive weeks at the end of last season at the ATP Finals and Davis Cup, where he led Italy to the title, and is the only player in the men’s draw yet to drop a set.
“This is what I practise for, to play against the best players in the world,” said Sinner. “Obviously he has an incredible record here, so for me it’s a pleasure to play against him, especially in the final stages of the tournament where things are a little bit more interesting.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be tough. This, I know. I will control the controllable, which is giving 100 per cent, having the right attitude, fighting for every ball. And then we see the outcome. More than this, I cannot do. It doesn’t really matter who my opponent is.”
Sinner reached his first slam semi-final at Wimbledon last summer but lost in straight sets to Djokovic, who is tantalisingly close to a record-breaking 25th major title.
This has not been one of his more straightforward paths through the draw in Melbourne, but his desire to continue racking up the biggest titles remains unquestionable.
“I’m aware of the streak that I’m on and the amount of matches that I have won in my career on the Rod Laver Arena,” said Djokovic.
“I don’t want to let that go. The longer the streak goes, the more that kind of confidence, also expectations, build, but also the willingness to really walk the extra mile.”
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Sinner’s two wins against Djokovic last November have added additional spice to their first meeting at the Australian Open and former British No 1 believes this could be the moment when the ultimate champion in Melbourne is beaten at last.
“For me, Sinner is the most improved player in the men’s game over the last six months,” Henman told Eurosport.
“He beat Djokovic in the year-end championships and he has that belief to get over the line against him.
“Best of five sets is different, but I believe he can and I’m going to call the upset.”
Djokovic is on a 33-match winning run at the Australian Open, but Henman’s brave call suggests this could be one of his biggest tests and his prediction was backed by former world No 1 Mats Wilander.
“I think he can do it,” said Wilander of Sinner. “They played three times, ATP Finals twice and then in the Davis Cup.
“He had a lot of time with Novak on court and to have that much concentrated time against the same player, three times in less than two weeks, the belief has to be there.”
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