Sinner Pays Tribute to Djokovic’s Legacy in Italy

Jannik Sinner recently expressed his disappointment over Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin. The world No. 1 shared that Djokovic “will be missed by everyone” and acknowledged the Serbian legend’s strong connection with the Italian fans.

Djokovic’s Announcement and Reasons for Withdrawal

Djokovic announced on Tuesday that he will not compete in this year’s prestigious year-end championships due to an unspecified injury. The 24-time Grand Slam champion took to Instagram to share his regrets:

“It’s quite an honour to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin,” Djokovic wrote. “I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week. Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

A Rare Absence in Djokovic’s Historic ATP Finals Record

This marks only the second time Djokovic has missed the ATP Finals since his debut in 2007. He last skipped the event in 2017 due to an injury that sidelined him after Wimbledon. Djokovic has appeared in 16 of the previous 17 editions, famously defeating Sinner 6-3, 6-3 in the 2023 final to secure a record seventh ATP Finals title.

Sinner’s Comments on Djokovic’s Impact and the Tournament Ahead

Speaking at a Lavazza event before the tournament, Sinner shared how Djokovic’s absence is a loss for both fans and players:

“Nole gave so much to the Italian public and people wanted to see him play,” Sinner said. “We are very sorry that he is not here, but this is sport—it happens that a player misses tournaments.”

Sinner added, “The season has been long, and in any case, here there are eight great players. We hope it will be a great tournament. Nole will be missed by everyone.”

Sinner’s Road to His First ATP Finals Crown

Sinner qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time in 2023 and now aims to claim his maiden title at the event. When asked which of the other seven qualifiers he considers the toughest opponent, Sinner responded, “Difficult question, they are the eight best of this season; honestly, all of them.”

The Italian star, a two-time Grand Slam winner, enters the tournament as the top seed and may face rival Carlos Alcaraz, seeded third, in group play. Sinner previously debuted at the ATP Finals in 2021 as an alternate, stepping in for injured compatriot Matteo Berrettini to play two round-robin matches.