Novak Djokovic is the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. He has 24 grand slam singles titles to his name and needs just one more to better Margaret Court’s record. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, the Serb talked about his career but there was also an intriguing discussion regarding Jannik Sinner that could lead to an interesting dynamic on tour next year.
What did Djokovic Say About Sinner?
Sinner had a fantastic 2025 season, reaching all four major finals. Sinner beat Djokovic in the French Open and Wimbledon semi-finals, and the former world number one was happy to admit that Sinner’s best level is now above his own. There is no doubt that when it come to the four grand slam tournaments in 2026, Sinner, along with Carlos Alcaraz, will be considered favourite with the bookmakers. When betting on the 2026 men’s singles tournaments, using this sportsbook with great odds will be vital because Sinner’s odds will be short and you want to bet with the best value.
Despite admitting Sinner had a great season, it was Djokovic’s comments about Sinner’s ban that raised eyebrows. Sinner served a three-month doping suspension having twice tested positive for a banned substance. Djokovic stated that he believed Sinner did not do it on purpose but the incident would be a cloud over his career. Speaking in the interview about Sinner’s ban, Djokovic said, “That cloud will follow him as the cloud of Covid will follow me,” before continuing, “Over time it will fade, but I don’t think it will disappear.”
When the ban was announced, many players questioned the timing and Djokovic said, “There is the lack of transparency, the inconsistency, the convenience [of] the ban coming between the slams, so he doesn’t miss out. It was very, very odd.”
What Will Happen Between Djokovic and Sinner Next Season?
The first thing to point out is that Djokovic is not the only player to have mentioned the timing of Sinner’s ban. Some players complained in the media and Liam Broady said, “I do think a lot has been put into when the ban would take place, to impact Jannik’s career as little as possible.”
Speaking earlier in the 2025 season at the Qatar Open, Djokovic said, “A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair. A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers.”
So, the comments made by Djokovic in the interview with Piers Morgan were not the first he has made about the subject. There did not appear to be ill feeling between Djokovic and Sinner on the tour last season so why would it be different heading in 2026 following the interview?
While Djokovic is likely to be fully focused on his tennis, wanting to win his 25th grand slam title, there is no telling how Sinner will react. However, he is also likely to be focused on winning and keeping any distractions to a minimum. Sinner reached the final of all four grand slams in 2025, winning two, and will be aiming to improve on that record in 2026. The pair could meet in the latter stages of the grand slam tournaments next season and the tennis is expected to do the talking.
