Jannik Sinner is the latest US Open champion, having beaten Taylor Fritz in the final to claim his second Grand Slam title of the year.
And, with that, it marks an even split of the majors between himself and Carlos Alcaraz for the year, truly signifying the changing of the guards.
With Roger Federer long retired and Rafael Nadal seemingly heading in that direction, the Big Three’s influence has been quite clearly waning, although Novak Djokovic has usually always been on hand to keep their dominance asserted.
However, despite a jaw-dropping 2023 in which he won three of the four Grand Slams and lost in the final of the other, he has gone throughout 2024 without a single ATP title at all.
Despite such a tough year, his Olympic gold medal aside, the legendary Serbian superstar has still found time to congratulate Jannik Sinner for his efforts.
Novak Djokovic congratulates Jannik Sinner after US Open title
It could be argued that Djokovic has played a huge role in the rapid rise to prominence that Sinner has enjoyed across the last year, having beaten him in the Wimbledon semi-finals to kickstart his run of form.
He went on to then win the China Open and in Vienna too, before beating the 24-time Grand Slam champion on three separate occasions in the coming months.
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He overcame him in the Davis Cup, the round robin of the end-of-year-finals, and then at the Australian Open on his way to that maiden Grand Slam.
Djokovic has been ever-present in Sinner’s development, whether he likes it or not, and there is no doubt that the Italian has taken plenty of inspiration from such a tough competitor.
Boris Becker also congratulated Sinner for making history with his win on Arthur Ashe.
Novak Djokovic will be eyeing up Grand Slam number 25
Whilst Sinner has been storming his way to further success, Djokovic will have been plotting in the background the best route he can take to his next, and most historic Grand Slam title.
After all, having won in New York last year, that marked his 24th at this level event, equalling Margaret Court as the greatest Grand Slam player of all time.
Now, he is just one more away from standing alone at the top and finally completing his ascension to the status of the undisputed GOAT.
Number 25 might seem very far away after his performances in 2025, but there’s no denying that, if anyone is going to clutch up and achieve the unthinkable, it’ll be Djokovic.
He will have his first shot in Melbourne early next year, when he seeks to dethrone Sinner from the first of two major titles he boasts.