Jannik Sinner was arguably the biggest absentee of all the tennis stars who missed the Olympics, with illness cited as the reason behind his non-attendance.
Despite enjoying the greatest year of his professional life thus far, 2024 has still been one wrought with setbacks for the 22-year-old.
To see Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, two of his biggest rivals, compete in the final for the gold medal, must have stung.
But, speaking on the event, he has made one admission about the respective reactions to the end result.
Jannik Sinner reacts to Novak Djokovic’s Olympics success
Chatting to the press ahead of his return to tennis, set to star as the top seed in the upcoming Montreal Open, attention had not yet diverted from the Olympics.
With Sinner offering a fitness update first, having missed the competition in Paris due to illness, attention then turned to the winner, Djokovic, who overcame Alcaraz in the final to win the Gold Medal.
Asked about his celebrations, one reporter quizzed the Italian: ‘What have you thought about Novak’s reaction, he was very emotional, do you think you would have reacted the same way?’
Jannik Sinner replied: ‘Of course I understand. I think he understands it more than anyone else! He tried so hard to get this medal which was the last thing that he really needed to accomplish. He knew this in his mind.
‘He was close a couple of times making bronze, fourth a couple of times. This year was his year.
‘It was a very nice scene to see how much this means to him. Also the reaction of Carlos after. It’s the same reaction in the opposite way. We work for this kind of thing and success, so Novak has many, many more years of expectations and it’s very nice to see.’
Jannik Sinner could have contested for the gold medal
Although they would have been on opposite sides of the draw, had Sinner entered the Olympics fully fit, there was a very good chance that it could have been he who faced Djokovic in the final for that gold medal rather than Alcaraz.
And, although the Spaniard was in ridiculously fine form heading into the clash, having won Roland Garros and Wimbledon, beating the 37-year-old in the final of the latter, he simply failed to compete with Djokovic’s remarkable serving and flawless all-around game.
The Serbian would not be denied, but things could have been much different against Sinner.
Despite their respective success at such young ages, the Italian is nearly four inches taller than Alcaraz, and therefore has a much greater coverage of the court.
He might not have that same electric speed, but from the back of the court he can outlast most opponents.
Against Djokovic, who continued to wear a brace on his right knee, a visual signifier of the struggles he had overcome to reach that stage, perhaps his unrelenting style might have proven more profitable rather than Alcaraz’s all-action but perhaps more showmanship philosophy.
His illness was a real shame for the strength of the tournament, but he will have plenty more chances to compete for that accolade.
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