Djokovic admits he may have made a mistake after helping Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner secured a crucial win on 15 July after Novak Djokovic’s unexpected intervention changed the course of their match in Toronto. The Italian star, ranked No. 4, benefited from Djokovic’s late withdrawal, raising questions about the Serb’s timing and its ripple effects on Sinner’s title hopes.

What happened in Toronto?

Djokovic pulled out of the Canadian Open just hours before his quarterfinal clash with Sinner. The withdrawal came amid concerns over Djokovic’s fitness, though he later admitted the decision might have backfired. Sinner, who had already beaten Alex de Minaur in the previous round, advanced to the semifinals without facing the world No. 1. The Italian wasted little time capitalizing, dispatching Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets to set up a showdown with Andrey Rublev.

Why Djokovic’s move matters for Sinner

For Sinner, the path to the final smoothed dramatically. Without Djokovic on the board, his seeding and draw position shifted, potentially easing his route to the championship match. The Italian, fresh off his Australian Open title in January, has been chasing another Grand Slam breakthrough this summer. His semifinal berth keeps him in the ATP Finals conversation, though Rublev’s aggressive baseline game poses a stern test.

But the Djokovic factor lingers. The Serb’s withdrawal wasn’t just a scheduling quirk-it altered momentum. Sinner’s camp downplayed the upset, yet the optics of a top seed stepping aside to hand a rival a free pass sparked immediate debate. Djokovic’s own words hinted at regret, framing the move as a miscalculation rather than a calculated risk.

What comes next for Sinner?

Sinner faces Rublev in a high-stakes semifinal on 17 July, with a spot in the Toronto final-and a shot at extending his hard-court winning streak-on the line. A win would bolster his case as a legitimate title contender ahead of the US Open. Yet the Djokovic episode looms large. Did the Serb’s absence hand Sinner an unfair advantage, or did the Italian simply seize the opportunity?

The match carries extra weight beyond the scoreboard. Sinner’s camp insists the focus remains on his own preparation, not external factors. Still, the narrative of Djokovic’s withdrawal refuses to fade, turning a routine tournament storyline into a talking point about fairness and timing in elite tennis.