Jannik Sinner is on fire this season! With a jaw-dropping 7 titles, including two Grand Slams, the Italian sensation is showing exactly why he’s claimed the World No. 1 spot. But, even with this incredible run, Sinner seemingly finds himself snubbed by none other than journalist and tennis expert Dario Puppo. And if you’re thinking it might have something to do with a certain 24-time Grand Slam champion—yes, Novak Djokovic is right in the middle of it.

Puppo engaged in an interview with Guido Monaco and Massimiliano Ambesi for the November 12 episode of his Tennis Mania, available on the OA Sport YouTube Channel.  With his guests, Puppo deliberated on a wide range of factors including the growth of Sinner and his comparison with Djokovic. Puppo highlighted that while the Italian player achieved significantly in recent years, he is yet to surpass players like Nole and Holger Rune, especially when it comes to personality. 

Speaking in the interview, Puppo said, “It certainly has a certain effect to hear the speaker announcing Jannik Sinner’s entrance on the court as number one in the world, there’s no doubt about it.” Sinner started his campaign at the ATP Finals with a sensational victory over Alex de Minaur in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. But Puppo believes that despite the sensational skills he possesses, he has yet to work on his aura. 

“However, I remembered what I perceived last edition, perhaps because he was number 4 in the ranking and still had to conquer all the incredible things that he then achieved, but what is missing are players with personality and a varied and complete game. Djokovic is Djokovic, we know that, but also Rune himself,” Puppo said further in the interview. For the unversed, the Italian dynamo has been often called out for his emotionless play with several in the tennis community calling him a ‘robot.’ This factor was interestingly acknowledged by Sinner himself in the past.

“I’ve been called a robot, a machine, a superhuman,” Sinner said in 2023. However, he highlighted that these statements do not impact his passion for the sport. “I am a kind of player who likes the game. If I could have one superpower, it would be playing tennis forever.” On the contrary, Djokovic’s passion and determination on court have often been credited for his fierce and strong personality with many claiming it to be the reason behind his immensely successful career. 

Interestingly, this is not the first time when Jannik Sinner has witnessed such a comparison with Novak Djokovic and it is not limited to mere personality. 

When Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach warned Jannik Sinner of the Serb’s remarkable grit

Novak Djokovic has not just won 24 Grand Slams over his career, but now also boasts an Olympic Gold. His determination and passion for tennis have been evidenced on multiple occasions, including this year itself, when the Serb decided to hit the courts just weeks after tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee during the French Open. Such instances have garnered him enough praise from many in the tennis community and his former coach Goran Ivanisevic is no exception. 

Speaking about Nole’s firmness and ability to perform despite being 37 years old, Ivanisevic seemingly issued a warning to top players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “I can’t know if he is motivated and how much, but the moment he decides to play, it means that he is eager to play. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are convincingly above the rest of the field, but I put Novak in the group with them, because when Novak really wants to play, he is still the best in the world, in my opinion,” he said. Continuing further, he added, “You can never write him off, I would never do that.”

But for now, all eyes are on the Italian sensation as he competes for ultimate glory at the ATP Finals. Can Jannik Sinner continue his dominant reason to lift another title? Well, only time will tell.