Novak Djokovic clarified he never humiliated or intentionally disrespected Jannik Sinner following remarks about skiing.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic (via X)
The tennis world was recently taken by storm following Novak Djokovic’s remarks about Jannik Sinner in a recent interview with GQ Magazine. The Serbian remark was perceived as a disrespect to the World No.1 after he shared contrasting comments about Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic and Sinner are gearing up for the first Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open, but are also engaging in several media duties. Recently, the Serb graced the cover of GQ Sports with different stylish photoshoots set on a boat. It was also accompanied by an interview with the outlet.
During the interview, Djokovic was asked to sum up his rivals in one word. The 37-year-old described Nadal as having “tenacity.” Federer as “Elegance” and Alcaraz as “Charisma”. But when it came to Sinner, Djokovic chose “skiing”, which drew attention from fans due to the stark difference from other answers.
Since then, It has gone viral on X, with Sinner’s fans claiming that Djokovic was disrespectful to the World No.1. During the Australian Open press conference, Djokovic was asked about his comment on Sinner. The Serbian revealed that he didn’t intentionally attempt to humiliate or disrespect Sinner.
Djokovic went on to clarify that the words popped up in his head because he and Sinner had shared interest in skiing. Djokovic added that he wasn’t intending to snub the 23-year-old’s tennis achievements.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominated the men’s tennis in the 2024 season after winning a combined twelve titles. They are heading into the 2025 Australian Open as heavy favorites to win the Grand Slam after winning two major titles each last season.
However, Novak Djokovic said during the interview that Alcaraz and Sinner can surpass his 24 Grand Slam record. He added that they can only achieve that if they take care of their bodies and focus on longevity.
Djokovic is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, which begins on January 12. Alcaraz is also aiming for the title as he looks to complete the Career Slam, while Sinner is ambitious about successfully defending the title.
