“No, Jannik Sinner would’ve demolished Novak Djokovic” – Fans debate Serb’s bold claim about beating Italian to win Australian Open if not for injury

Novak Djokovic Claims He Would Have Defeated Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open Final if Not for Injury

Tennis fans have reacted strongly to Novak Djokovic’s recent claim that he could have beaten Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final—if not for his injury. The 24-time Grand Slam champion reached the semifinals in Melbourne before being forced to retire due to a muscle tear in his upper left leg.

Djokovic, seeded seventh, navigated past Nishesh Basavareddy, Jaime Faria, Tomas Machac, Jiri Lehecka, and Carlos Alcaraz to secure a spot in the final four. However, his campaign came to an abrupt end when he had to withdraw after losing the first set against Alexander Zverev due to injury.

Djokovic Believes He Would Have Won the Title if Healthy

In an interview with Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti, Djokovic reflected on his performance in Melbourne and expressed confidence that he would have gone all the way had he remained fit.

“I always give myself great chances; I cannot be immodest. I think that with the kind of game I raised and achieved in the quarter-final victory against [Carlos] Alcaraz, I would have had a good chance against [Alexander] Zverev in the semi-final, who should have been beaten if I had been healthy, and then also against [Jannik] Sinner… But well, it is ungrateful to deal with those scenarios—what could have been,” Djokovic said (translated from Serbian).

Fans React to Djokovic’s Bold Claim

Djokovic’s statement sparked heated debates among tennis fans, with opinions divided on whether he would have triumphed over Sinner.

One fan dismissed the claim, stating:
“No. Sinner would have demolished him.”

Another fan countered, arguing that Djokovic’s performance against Alcaraz suggested he could have won the title:
“Yes, the level Djokovic played at against Alcaraz was convincingly the best form of any player at the tournament, and he would’ve won if not for the injury.”

Other reactions included:

• “Against Zverev, yes, perhaps. Against Sinner, absolutely not—he won’t beat him anymore.”
• “No, against Sinner, he wouldn’t have had even a break point.”
• “Obviously agree. But with age comes wear and tear. Novak’s best and last chance? Not Paris with grueling rallies, slow balls, and stretching. It’s Wimbledon—shorter points, and he loves the grass.”

Djokovic vs. Sinner: A Growing Rivalry

Djokovic and Sinner have faced each other eight times on the ATP Tour, with both players winning four matches.

At the Grand Slam level, their encounters stand as follows:

• 2022 Wimbledon (Quarterfinals) – Djokovic won 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
• 2023 Wimbledon (Semifinals) – Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
• 2024 Australian Open (Semifinals) – Sinner won 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3

Sinner went on to win the 2024 Australian Open title by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Djokovic’s claim has certainly reignited discussions about whether he remains capable of outclassing the new generation, particularly Sinner. Whether he can prove it on the court remains to be seen.