Jannik Sinner dodged a question about Novak Djokovic’s past Davis Cup success after helping Italy win the tournament for the first time since 1976. The world No 4 was the MVP for his nation this week and could well follow in Djokovic’s footsteps as the Serb won three Majors in the season after team Serbia became Davis Cup champions. But Sinner chose to focus on his teammates when he was asked whether the victory could provide a similar springboard.
Sinner was the man of the week at the Davis Cup finals, winning all five matches he played in across singles and doubles – including victories over Djokovic. The 22-year-old saved three match points against the world No 1 in Saturday’s semi-final, which would have seen Serbia go through, then paired up with Lorenzo Sonego to beat Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic in the doubles.
It was the second tie in a row that saw Italy come from behind with Sinner’s help to stay in the competition. And he put on a clinical display in the final to beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-0 following Matteo Arnaldi’s earlier victory. Sinner could now follow past Davis Cup champions like Djokovic, who had some of their most successful seasons the year after helping their nation lift the trophy.
The world No 4 was reminded of Serbia’s 2010 victory and the impact it had on Djokovic, who reached world No 1 for the first time and won three Grand Slams and five Masters titles in 2011. When he was asked whether Italy’s success could also push him to achieve big goals, Sinner put the focus back on his teammates.
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“Let’s see. I mean, this is something different, something really special, because you don’t play for yourself but you play for the whole team,” he started. The 10-time title winner then referenced the Davis Cup group stage in September, when the squad came back from the brink of defeat to reach Finals week while Sinner was unable to play.
He continued: “I think every one of us, we were really excited to be part of this. I have to thanks all the team to come through in Bologna where I was not able to play there. They had some very tough and difficult time there. They stand up for this, and I came here with confidence, no, and throughout the whole month.
“I played coming from Turin, I gave 100 per cent, all what I had, and I think the whole team, they pushed every one of each other, and this is maybe our key why we are standing here with this trophy.”
While Sinner didn’t go into the effect that the Davis Cup could have on him, the boost that it has given other top players serves as a good omen for the world No 4. As well as Djokovic’s success, Andy Murray enjoyed his strongest season after leading Britain to glory in 2015.
The 2016 season then saw Murray win his third Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and his second Olympic gold medal. He also reached world No 1 for the first time and ended the season on an incredible 24-match winning streak, spanning titles in Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Paris-Bercy and the ATP Finals.
Sinner has already reached some major milestones this year – winning his first Masters title, getting to a Major semi-final at Wimbledon, reaching a career-high ranking and making the final of the ATP Finals – and he ends the season in arguably the best form compared to all of his rivals. And Italy’s Davis Cup triumph could well be the final piece of the puzzle to help the 22-year-old take some extra steps at the Grand Slams and up the rankings in 2024.
