Tennis News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Jannik Sinner Explains Similarities and Differences Between His and Novak Djokovic’s Game After Breezing into Wimbledon 3rd Round

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Gouri Das | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 9:24 AM ET

Even the top players are struggling to make deep runs at Wimbledon as seeds tumbled right from the first round. But one of these players is not Jannik Sinner, who has once again started serving bagels and breadsticks to his opponents.

After dispatching compatriot Luca Nardi, the World No.1 registered a comprehensive 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in the second round. Sinner’s game has often been compared to Novak Djokovic, who he is projected to meet in the semifinals.

At the press conference after his win, Sinner was asked about the similarities and differences between their playing style. Sinner said one of the similarities is the way they hit the backhand and the forehand.

I may be a bit more of a faster hitter. But in the other way, I’m also quite consistent like he is. There are some similarities. I believe he gave me a lot of information…that I could make my game similar to his, but in my style. I always try to see from certain players what I can take and trying to see if it works well. He’s definitely the main person I look up to, trying to do a couple of things like him.

Sinner was the reason why Djokovic was unsuccessful in reaching the French Open final. The 23-year-old knocked him out in the semifinal to take a 5-4 head-to-head edge over the Serb.

If they meet, then it will be the third time they will face each other at Wimbledon, following the 2022 (quarterfinals) and 2023 (semifinals) seasons. Djokovic won both times. However, Nole hasn’t yet won a Major since the 2023 US Open.

Jannik Sinner claims having more money helped him prove his innocence

It’s been two months since Jannik Sinner returned to competition after serving the three-month doping ban he received from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Many questioned the entire process of the anti-doping agencies as they think Sinner received preferential treatment because of his high-profile status.

But Sinner is not ready to believe that he was treated differently. At the press conference after his second-round win at Wimbledon, a Polish journalist told him that he was writing about Kamil Majchrzak, whose doping case too was similar to that of the three-time Major champion. But while the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that Sinner was a victim of accidental contamination and handed him no suspension, Majchrzak has to face a harsh punishment.

Sinner was asked if he thinks there needs to be some assistance for players who can appeal their cases with fewer resources, he claimed his innocence first and said whenever his case was scrutinized, his innocence was always proven. Although Sinner did not talk in detail about the creation of funds to help the players who earn less money, he agreed with the journalist that this could be the way to help them.

I was able to hire a highly prestigious lawyer because I have the money that others don’t have and that I have earned on my own merits. I went through the same process as the rest of the tennis players in my same situation. I did not receive preferential treatment.

Sinner also claimed that if he got embroiled in the doping scandal at the age of 18, it would have been difficult to prove his innocence and he might have received a lengthy suspension. After his doping ban, Sinner made his comeback at the Italian Open only to lose to Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Sinner then again lost to Alcaraz after a five-hour, 29-minute battle in the French Open final. At Wimbledon, the South Tyrol native will next face Pedro Martinez.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: