Tennis legend Mats Wilander has proclaimed that Novak Djokovic remains the best player in the world despite losing the No 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner
The seven-time Grand Slam champion recognised that Sinner has had “an exceptional first part of the season”, but argued Djokovic is still “almost unbeatable” when at his best.
Djokovic‘s withdrawal from the 2024 French Open ensured that he will be replaced by Sinner as the world No 1 when the ATP Rankings update on Monday.
The Serbian was due to play Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, but he was forced to pull out after tearing the meniscus in his right knee.
The 37-year-old sustained the injury during his five-set fourth round victory over Francisco Cerundolo and has since undergone surgery.
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This means the 24-time Grand Slam champion faces a race to be fit for the upcoming Wimbledon Championships, as well as the Paris Olympics.
While he found some form at the French Open before his injury, Djokovic has endured a difficult 2024 season so far and has not won a title since his ATP Finals triumph in December.
Sinner, meanwhile, has lost just four matches since the US Open in September and has been the outstanding ATP player this year.
The 22-year-old Italian claimed his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and is now chasing Roland Garros glory.
Wilander accepted that Sinner’s milestone ranking accomplishment was a true reflection of his performances, but made the case that it does not change Djokovic’s status.
“I know very well that Sinner has just had an exceptional first part of the season and that the computer is not lying,” the Swede told L’Equipe.
“But I also don’t forget that Novak remains the defending champion at the US Open and the Masters (ATP Finals), and that he was a finalist at Wimbledon a year ago. As long as he is there, for me, he remains the best.
“And we saw in his end of the match against Cerundolo that, even injured, when he goes into ‘Djoko mode’, he is almost unbeatable. In fact, he fell to second place in the world due to a health problem. Not on a defeat.”
The former world No 1 outlined why Djokovic’s absence from the biggest tournaments is such a blow for tennis after the Serb’s injury.
“I think that for him, I’m worried about him playing Wimbledon, to be honest,” Wilander said on Eurosport. “I’m sorry to the tennis world, but the grass is a dangerous surface if you’re trying to come back from meniscus surgery.
“I have to think that the most important tournament for him, for once, is the Olympics, because he hasn’t won the Olympic gold medal and I think he would really like to bring that home to Serbia.
“Of course, winning Wimbledon for an eighth time would be amazing, getting 25 majors, but he’s so young in his body and mind.
“The one thing that is most disappointing for me personally, apart from that Novak is disappointed himself, is that I want to see him here.
“I want to see him push the youngsters, because what he brought to the match against [Lorenzo] Musetti, and what he brought to the match against [Francisco] Cerundolo, the young guys, they don’t really know how to do that.
“How to throw the kitchen sink at everything and everybody and I am not losing without doing that. I think Novak is basically the last guy to really know how to do that, because of his experience. That’s why I’m the most disappointed.”
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