Novak Djokovic Denies 'Ridiculous' Claims About Disrespecting Jannik Sinner
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Novak Djokovic responded strongly to claims that he intentionally mocked Jannik Sinner during a recent interview.
Comments about Sinner from his fellow rivals are closely watched by tennis fans because of the controversy surrounding the Italian since his positive tests for the banned substance clostebol became public in August.
The World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal of his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) means Sinner's anxiety continues. After months of waiting, he recently discovered the date for his CAS appeal hearing.
While many have supported Sinner since the case became public and believe he does not deserve to be banned, others have been more critical. A former ATP world No. 1 extraordinarily claimed anyone who tests positive for a banned substance should be given a lifetime ban.
Nick Kyrgios has criticized Sinner the most. The former Wimbledon runner-up promised to turn the entire crowd against him if they met at the Australian Open and strongly believes he deserves to be banned.
Sinner has ignored all of Kyrgios' remarks and said in a pre-Australian Open press conference that he would not respond to anything the 29-year-old says. The defending champion in Melbourne wants to focus as best he can on the season's opening Grand Slam.
Djokovic shares a friendship with Kyrgios. That was demonstrated when the pair played doubles together at the Brisbane International, losing a tight second-round match in a deciding 10-point tiebreak.
A few years ago, their bond seemed impossible. The controversial Australian used to slam Djokovic regularly, but their relationship changed when Kyrgios defended the Serbian during his detention in Australia in 2022.
In an interview with GQ, Djokovic sensationally claimed that the immigration hotel where he was detained gave him poisoned food that made him unwell and caused increased lead and mercury in his system.
Djokovic's answer about Sinner in the GQ interview also caused controversy. He was asked to use the first word that comes to mind for Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Sinner. Federer's was elegance, Nadal was called a warrior, and Alcaraz's word was charisma.
Sinner's answer was "skiing." That answer, compared to Federer, Nadal, and Alcaraz's, and his relationship with Kyrgios, made some of Djokovic's fans on social media claim he deliberately used an inferior word for the Italian.
In a press conference before the Australian Open, Djokovic admitted to seeing the social media comments about what he said about Sinner and vehemently denied that he tried to disrespect him.
"Yes, I’ve seen it on social media that it’s being made into some kind of drama or a story, like I humiliated him or I’ve intentionally shown disrespect toward him. That’s ridiculous. It was one of those quiz type of interviews, where you have to think of something in a second."
"Sinner’s name came up and I had this image in my head of him skiing, because I saw he was skiing somewhere. Also, the two of us talk about skiing always, how we’re going to ski together (Djokovic grew up on a Kopaonik mountain) etc."
Djokovic was keen to emphasize that he respects Sinner's achievements and how he established himself as the most dominant ATP player in 2024.
"That’s why I said ’skiing’, not because I don’t respect his achievements in tennis, on the contrary. It is as clear as day that the way he is dominating is worthy of every praise – both his playing style and the level of play. He’s got all the attributes I’ve mentioned in others (Federer, Nadal, Alcaraz), and now people make it seem like I am disrespecting him. Rubbish."
