Djokovic Vows Outreach to Sinner as Injury Reshapes the ATP Landscape

SHANGHAI — For two decades, Novak Djokovic has been a fixture on the tennis tour, rarely seen away from the baseline for long stretches. Yet the 39-year-old Serbian champion found himself in an unusual position this week: reaching out to a rival to offer empathy rather than competition.

Djokovic confirmed Thursday at the Shanghai Masters that he plans to contact Jannik Sinner following the world number one’s announcement that knee inflammation has ended his 2024 season. It is a sentiment born from personal experience, one Djokovic does not take lightly.

The Announcement That Silence the Italian

Sinner, the reigning U.S. Open champion, confirmed on Tuesday that he will not compete for the remainder of the year. The five-time major winner has been sidelined since the Wimbledon final in July, where he defeated Alexander Zverev, and followed that with a withdrawal from the U.S. Open due to the same right knee issue.

The timing could not be worse for the Italian’s campaign. Having dominated the season for much of the year on a 30-match winning streak, the injury forces Sinner to concede significant ground to the rest of the field at the most critical juncture of the calendar.

When Djokovic was asked about his rival’s condition during his press conference in Shanghai, his response was measured and personal.

Djokovic Draws on His Own Surgery to Offer Support

Speaking Thursday at the Shanghai Masters, Djokovic admitted he had not been in direct contact with the Italian since the injury first surfaced.

“I haven’t been in touch with Jannik since he got injured, I just saw the news two days ago. So I’ll reach out to him to see how he’s doing,” Djokovic said. “As someone that has been through some major injuries in my career.”

Djokovic’s last major injury came in late July 2017, when he made the decision to sit out the rest of that season after struggling with acute pain in his right elbow. He eventually underwent surgery on the joint, the only major operation of his career.

“I had a surgery, and it was the only big surgery that I had,” the 24-time major champion noted. “So I’m aware of how difficult that is making that comeback.”

The Mental Toll of a Season-Ending Layoff

While the physical recovery is the visible challenge, Djokovic emphasized that the psychological adjustment is often the harder battle for athletes.

“Then it’s mental, you know. You’re on the court and you’re thinking ‘Am I really completely healed and free to make this run?'” Djokovic said, who recently captured the China Open for his 102nd career title. “I mean for him if it’s a knee. Obviously it’s affecting everything, it’s affecting every single movement.”

The stakes for Sinner are particularly high given his position at the summit of the sport. Having held the top ranking for much of the year, the injury forces him to step away from the biggest stages just as the race to close out the season reaches its climax.

Major Stakes Left on the Table in Paris and Turin

The impact of the withdrawal extends far beyond the current week in Shanghai. Sinner was already confirmed absent from the Shanghai Masters, but the financial and ranking implications stretch through the autumn.

“You know for sure that tennis misses him,” Djokovic said of the Italian’s absence, adding that he now turns his attention to his own second-round match against Hubert Hurkacz in Shanghai.

Zverev Poised to Claim Year-End No. 1 Spot

The immediate ripple effect of Sinner’s withdrawal is a shift in the world ranking hierarchy. Alexander Zverev, currently ranked No. 2 and the winner of the French Open and U.S. Open this year, is now almost certain to take the No. 1 ranking from the Italian.

The math is straightforward: Sinner will lose the 1,000 points he gained by winning Paris last year without a corresponding defense this season. Meanwhile, Zverev continues to collect points at the Shanghai Masters, putting him within striking distance of the summit of the sport.

Carlos Alcaraz is also in contention to make noise at the top, though the Spanish champion missed four and a half months this year recovering from a right wrist injury. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who has won all four majors, clinched the Japan Open on Tuesday and is currently competing in Shanghai.

The Competition for the Top Spot Intensifies

Zverev acknowledged the shifting landscape without letting it distract from his own preparations.

“It is a talking point for everybody at the moment but I am motivated to keep fighting for good things,” Zverev told ATP Media. “I have big motivation to play and there are certain things I want to achieve and of course I am fighting for.”

A Season That Redefined the Men’s Game

By the time the 2024 tour concludes, it will be remembered for the injury interruptions that reshuffled the ranking order at the worst possible moments. Sinner’s absence removes the dominant force of the year from the final stretch, creating space for Zverev, Alcaraz, and others to define the sport’s future.

For Djokovic, the focus remains on his own form and the upcoming challenges. Yet the conversation in Shanghai this week highlighted the shifting guard of men’s tennis. The rivalry that once defined the sport is now expanding, and with the top two players forced to sit out critical events, the path to No. 1 is more contested than ever.

Sports, News, People, Tennis, ATP Tour, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Rankings, 2024 Season, Shanghai Masters, Paris Masters, ATP Finals, Davis Cup, Injury & Recovery