Novak Djokovic Jannik Sinner feud, comments, skiing quip, GQ interview

Novak Djokovic has rubbished reports of a brewing feud with world No.1 Jannik Sinner after a one-word answer he gave in his recent interview with GQ raised eyebrows.

In a word association segment, Djokovic was asked to describe several rivals in one word.

For Roger Federer, he said "elegance". For Rafael Nadal, "tenacity". Carlos Alcaraz, "charisma".

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But for Sinner, Djokovic said "skiing".

Some fans and pundits took the answer to be a swipe, or a sign of disrespect from the Serbian to the young Italian.

Sinner and Djokovic after the Italian won the Shanghai Masters last year. Getty

But speaking in Serbian ahead of the Australian Open, Djokovic dismissed the suggestion and explained the pair shared a passion for skiing and had discussed going on a trip together.

"Yes, I've seen it on social media that it's being made into some kind of drama or a story, like I humiliated him or I've intentionally shown disrespect toward him. That's ridiculous," he said.

"It was one of those quiz type of interviews where you have to think of something in a second.

"Sinner's name came up and I had this image in my head of him skiing, because I saw he was skiing somewhere. Also, the two of us talk about skiing always, how we're going to ski together, et cetera.

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"That's why I said 'skiing', not because I don't respect his achievements in tennis, on the contrary."

Djokovic grew up in the Kopaonik mountain range in central Serbia, where his parents ran a fast-food outlet. When he wasn't playing tennis, he was often on the slopes.

Sinner ended Djokovic's run at last year's Australian Open in the semi-finals. The pair are 4-4 in their career head-to-head, but Sinner has won four of their last five match-ups.

"It is as clear as day that the way he is dominating is worthy of every praise – both his playing style and the level of play," Djokovic continued.

"He's got all the attributes I've mentioned in others (Federer, Nadal, Alcaraz), and now people make it seem like I am disrespecting him. Rubbish."

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