Novak Djokovic could not overcome Jannik Sinner in the 2024 Shanghai Masters final last week, and Adriano Panatta feels the Serbian gave up after the first set.
Djokovic made his first appearance in China in five years at the Shanghai Masters. He received superb support throughout his return to the country, including being called the greatest of all time by an announcer as he walked onto the court.
The former world No. 1 played well in his opening five matches to reach the final. He beat Taylor Fritz for a tenth time in a row in the semifinal, saving a set point during his 6-4, 7-6 triumph.
That set up a showdown with Sinner in the final, but the Italian proved too good. He denied Djokovic a 100th tournament win by beating him 7-6, 6-3, not facing a breakpoint throughout the contest.
The 37-year-old spoke afterward about not feeling 100% during his battle with Sinner. Djokovic had struggled physically in the closing stages against Fritz and said the effects of that issue were still there during the final in Shanghai.
However, the 1976 French Open champion Adriano Panatta had a much more blunt opinion of why Djokovic struggled in the second set of the final in particular, claiming the 10-time Australian Open winner gave up after losing the first set.
Although a highly controversial statement to make about one of the mentally toughest sportspeople ever, Panatta was convinced of it in comments he made to Corriere Dello Sport.
"He (Djokovic) played well, but for exactly one hour. After the first set, there was no more match, so I think that Djokovic also resigns himself to giving up."
"I believe that a player like him, who was probably the best of all time in terms of results, is not a player who can allow himself to leave the court, I don’t say humiliated, but with a good beating from Sinner."
Panatta admitted he loves Roger Federer more than Djokovic, although the 74-year-old insisted that he admires the Serbian and his incredible achievements.
"I’m a little sorry, because I have great admiration for Djokovic. I always say that I didn’t love Djokovic, but that’s not true. I loved [Roger] Federer more."
The Italian also praised his compatriot Sinner for his level throughout 2024. Panatta thinks the world No. 1 is so good that he can beat players ranked No. 6 and lower without playing well.
"He won again, he confirmed this extraordinary year that he is playing in a way that is beyond belief, because it is true that he has made a lot of progress in these last months, but I must say that the continuity and the average level of play is very high."
"Even when he doesn’t play very well, with players from six and below he can never lose. When he plays well he doesn’t even lose with the first four."
"Then I must say that the gap now is between him, [Carlos] Alcaraz and the others. He plays continuously for two-three hours always at a very high level."