Novak Djokovic predicts Sinner success

Novak Djokovic didn’t hedge this one. In Rome on Thursday, May 7, he basically said Jannik Sinner is going to win the tournament — and with it complete the Career Golden Masters, the sweep of all nine Masters 1000 events. That matters because Djokovic is the only man who has done it, so this isn’t random hype from a bystander. It’s the guy who owns the milestone pointing at the one player who looks ready to match him. (jen.jiji.com) ### What exactly did Djokovic say? The line making the rounds is blunt: Sinner will win Rome, probably this year. The wording varies a bit across translations and pickups, but the point is the same — Djokovic used his Rome press conference to say Sinner is playing at an absurd level and looks like the favorite to finish the job at (jen.jiji.com)m the one player who knows exactly how hard this feat is. (jen.jiji.com) ### Why is Rome the missing piece? Sinner already has eight different Masters 1000 titles. Rome is the only one missing. He reached the final there in 2025 but didn’t get over the line, so this year gives him a clean shot to complete the set on home soil. If he does it, he becomes only the second man to own a Career Golden Masters, alongside Djokovic — who has actually won all nine at least twice. (atptour.com) ### Why are people taking the prediction seriously? Because Sinner’s 2026 season has been ridiculous. He has won all four Masters 1000 events played so far this year, then beat Alexander Zverev in the Madrid final to make it five straight Masters titles overall. ATP’s own preview framed Rome around that chase, and not as a long-shot fantasy. This is the form of a player steamrolling the level just below the Slams. (atptour.com) ### Wasn’t there a question about whether he’d even play? Yes — but Sinner shut that down after Madrid. He said he was physically fine, had recovered, and had no reason not to play Rome. That matters because the Madrid-to-Rome turnaround can be rough, especially after a title run. Instead of hinting at fatigue, Sinner sounded fresh and pretty clear that the home event matters a lot to him. (nst.com.my) ### Why does home soil matter so much here? Rome is not just another stop for Sinner. He’s the Italian No. 1, the top-ranked player in the world, and the face of a home crowd that has been waiting forever for a men’s singles champion. Italy hasn’t had one in Rome since Adriano Panatta in 1976. So the pressu(nst.com.my) would make it feel national. (atptour.com) ### What about Djokovic himself? He’s back in the field after not competing since Indian Wells in early March because of injury, and he’s a six-time Rome champion. So this is not Djokovic handing over the crown and walking away. But his own tournament shape is less certain than Sinner’s, and even ATP’s Rome setup cast Djokovic as the returning threat while Sinner sat at the center of the event. (atptour.com) ### So what’s really going on? Djokovic’s comment works because it feels both generous and slightly dangerous. It praises Sinner, but it also adds weight. Now every Sinner match in Rome gets read through one question: is this the week he joins Djokovic in the rarest Masters category? That’s a lot to carry — but right now, nobody in men’s tennis looks better built for it. (jen.jiji.com) ### Bottom line? This story isn’t just that Djokovic complimented Sinner. It’s that the one man who owns the record looked at the Rome field, looked at Sinner’s form, and basically said: the club is about to get a second member. (jen.jiji.com)