Patrick Mouratoglou has suggested Jannik Sinner could have a huge 2024 season after leading Italy to the Davis Cup title in the same way Novak Djokovic did in 2011.
The high-profile coach and analyst thinks the victory may inspire Sinner to new heights, as was the case with the great Serbian in the same situation, and declared 2024 “can be the year of Jannik.”
Sinner was instrumental in Italy claiming their second Davis Cup crown and first since 1976 as he won all three singles matches and two decisive doubles ties at the 2023 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last month.
The world No 4 overcame Djokovic in both singles – where he saved three match points – and doubles, in Italy’s semi-final comeback win against Serbia.
Novak Djokovic led Serbia to the only Davis Cup title in the nation’s history in 2010 by winning all seven of the singles ties he contested throughout the year.
The following season in 2011, Djokovic posted a stunning 70-6 (92.1%) record and started the year with an insane 41-match winning streak that featured seven titles.
The Serbian finished with 10 titles, having secured a second Australian Open and maiden Wimbledon and US Open crowns, as well as becoming world No 1 for the first time.
He also dominated his great rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, registering 6-0 and 4-1 head-to-heads against the Spaniard and the Swiss respectively.
Mouratoglou shared an anecdote from Australian legend Tony Roche to illustrate how it might be possible for Sinner to replicate Djokovic by having a stunning season in 2024.
“He won the Davis Cup and that’s an incredible boost. It reminds me of 2011 for Novak. We had this discussion with Tony Roche at the Australian Open [in] 2011,” the Frenchman told Tennis Majors.
“We were discussing exactly the same topic: ‘who’s gonna play well this year?’ I don’t remember who I said, but I didn’t say Novak, and he said, ‘I think Djokovic is going to win, he’s going to be the one this year.’
“And I said, ‘why do you say that’. And he said, ‘because what he did at Davis Cup, winning for his country, being the guy that brought all the points. I think it’s an incredible boost of confidence for the next year.’
“And 2011 was the year of Novak. That’s the year that he really won most of everything. Beat Rafa – I don’t know how many times – even on clay several times. So that was his year. And I think it (2024) can be the year of Jannik. I think Novak has an edge, but I think he can play incredible this year.”
Mouratoglou, who coaches at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France, has worked with several tennis stars, including Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Coco Gauff, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.
