Novak Djokovic reveals Jannik Sinner’s ‘next goal’ after rise to world No 1

Oli Dickson Jefford 01 Dec 2024 9:35 AM

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner chat during the Shanghai Masters trophy ceremony

Novak Djokovic believes world No 1 Jannik Sinner will now look to “find the right” formula to ensure he can stay at the top of tennis for as long as possible.

Sinner was the dominant force in the men’s game in 2024, winning his first two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and US Open, and rising to world No 1.

The Italian won eight titles in total – four more than anyone else on the ATP Tour – and lost just six of his 79 matches in 2024.

In contrast to Sinner, Djokovic’s season was a difficult one, with the Serbian failing to win a Grand Slam title and falling to world No 7 in the ATP Rankings.

However, with 24 Grand Slam singles titles and 428 weeks as the world No 1 to his name, perhaps no one is better qualified than Djokovic to recognise the challenges of staying ahead of the chasing pack.

While admitting that Sinner did not need his advice, the 37-year-old has revealed what he thought the Italian’s “next goal” would be.

“I think he’s doing well even without my advice,” said Djokovic to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“However, it’s one thing to win your first two Grand Slams and become world number 1 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 find the right balance between your professional and personal life.

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“But in the end, we’re all different in an individual sport. So, what works for me doesn’t necessarily work for you, but I think Jannik has done it. He’s understood what he needs.

“The next goal will be to find the right formula to invest in your body in the best way possible to prevent injuries, stay healthy, motivated and, above all, passionate about tennis.”

Sinner beat Djokovic twice in 2024, winning their Australian Open semi-final at the start of the season – Djokovic’s first loss at that stage in Melbourne – before also triumphing in the Shanghai Masters final.

The Italian will hit the milestone of 26 weeks as the world No 1 on Monday and is guaranteed to stay at the top until at least next spring, with a cushion of 3,915 points over world No 2 Alexander Zverev.

Carlos Alcaraz was Sinner’s biggest stumbling block in 2024, with the Spaniard beating Sinner three times in as many meetings throughout the season.

However, the Spaniard failed to match his rival’s consistency, finishing the year 4,820 points behind Sinner despite also winning two Grand Slam titles.

Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz are all set to start their 2025 season at the Australian Open, which begins on January 12.