Novak Djokovic told which player is his ‘biggest threat’ at ATP Finals by former world No 4

Ewan West
Novak Djokovic close-up at tennis media day
Novak Djokovic of Serbia looks on during a tennis media day

Greg Rusedski believes Jannik Sinner is the most improved player this year and warned Novak Djokovic the Italian is his biggest threat at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin. 

The 1997 US Open runner-up also declared that Djokovic has the “best footwork in tennis” and argued this is one of the reasons the great Serb is the GOAT.

Djokovic, who is the defending ATP Finals champion, is in the Green Group at this year’s edition alongside Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion will face world No 10 Rune in his opening round-robin match at the year-end championships on Sunday night.

Sinner will take on Tsitsipas on Sunday afternoon as he makes his debut at the event as a full qualifier, having played two matches as an alternate in 2021.

The world No 4 has had a superb 2023 season and his form has been particularly strong since reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon in July.

Prior to his ATP 500 triumphs in Beijing and Vienna last month, he claimed the biggest title of his career by winning the Canada Masters in Toronto in August.

The 22-year-old Italian has lost all three of his previous encounters with Djokovic, including a straight-set Wimbledon semi-final loss this year, and a five-set defeat in the last eight at the All England Club in 2022, in which he led by two sets to love.

READ MORE: Jannik Sinner’s evolution under Darren Cahill – only Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev have more points

In a post shared on Twitter / X, Rusedski highlighted the development of Sinner this season and identified him as the player most likely to stop Djokovic in Turin.

“Novak will finish the year a record eighth time [as] world No 1 and is the favourite to defend the title. Most improved this year and biggest threat to Novak is Sinner, who is in his group,” wrote the former world No 4.

The British-Canadian, a tennis commentator and pundit for Amazon Prime Video, also shared a video of the world No 1 practising in ahead of the ATP Finals and highlighted his footwork.

“Best footwork in tennis. That is one of the reasons why @DjokerNole is the GOAT and favourite to win every time he plays. Incredible at 36 years young,” said the 50-year-old in a tweet.

Djokovic, who currently shares the record of six triumphs at the ATP Finals with former great rival Roger Federer, can secure a seventh title at the year-end championships in Turin.

The 36-year-old earned a convincing 6-4, 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the final of the 2023 Paris Masters last week to claim a record-extending seventh title at the tournament.

Rusedski, a former British No 1, won 15 ATP titles including the Paris Masters before his retirement in 2007. He was defeated in four sets by Patrick Rafter in the final at the 1997 US Open.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic backed to go for 28 Grand Slams and labelled the GOAT by former rival