Novak Djokovic predicts when Jannik Sinner will be world No 1 as he makes rankings confession

Ewan West
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Post-match hug between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic
Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy is congratulated by Novak Djokovic of Serbia

Novak Djokovic believes Jannik Sinner will overtake him to become the ATP world No 1 in “a matter of weeks” ahead of his appearance at the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters. 

The 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that retaining his place at the top of the rankings is not his goal for the 2024 season.

Djokovic has spent an astonishing record of 420 weeks as the world No 1 and currently sits on 9,725 ATP ranking points, giving him a 1,015 point lead over Sinner.

Sinner, who has 8,710 points, became the first Italian player in history to be ranked No 2 in the world after his victory at the Miami Open last month. The 22-year-old Italian has made a blistering 22-1 start to 2024, having also won the Australian Open and the Rotterdam Open.

Carlos Alcaraz, who is currently ranked third, is also involved in the battle for top spot as he is just 65 points behind Sinner on a tally of 8,645 points.

The trio are all in action at this week’s Monte Carlo Masters, where Djokovic is a two-time former champion (2013 and 2015), while Sinner and Alcaraz are seeking a maiden title at the event.

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In an interview with Sky Sport Italia ahead of Monte Carlo, Djokovic looked ahead to the ATP Masters 1000 tournament and also backed Sinner to dethrone him as world No 1 soon.

“I am happy to be in Monte Carlo, which has been my home for over 15 years, even if I haven’t played my best tennis in recent years,” said the 36-year-old.

“It’s a matter of weeks before Sinner becomes world No 1. This year the ranking is not my goal (translated from Italian).”

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin assessed that Sinner is the best player in the world and declared he will be rewarded with top spot in the rankings if he remains “as authoritarian.”

“He’s the strongest at the moment. He has shown it since the start of this season by being extremely dominant. The results are the consequence of the tennis he is developing, of the confidence accumulated with victories,” the tennis legend told Eurosport.

“The ranking is calculated over 52 weeks and that is the consequence. He will become world No 1 if he manages to remain as authoritarian. When you have a start to the season like that, you give yourself a good chance of achieving this objective.

“But it will go through the work which will bring the result which, itself, will bring the ranking. He certainly has other objectives before becoming world No 1. ”

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