Tim Henman was full of admiration for Jannik Sinner's dominant serving performance during his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh.
The defending champion had the upper hand on serve and return, outplaying the legend and sealing the deal in just over an hour. Novak could not match the rival's controlled aggression and pinpoint precision.
Henman highlighted Sinner's outstanding serving numbers, noting his high first-serve percentage and remarkable consistency against one of the best returners in history.
The 24-year-old lost eight points behind the initial shot, denying two break points in the closing stages of the duel and providing three breaks from as many opportunities to seal the deal in style.
Jannik established an early control and dictated the baseline exchanges with ease. The Italian had been working on his initial shot following the US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz.
It's a long-term project, and the four-time Major champion wants to see improvements in 2026. However, he has already conquered Beijing and Riyadh following that New York setback, seeking more successin Vienna, Paris and Turin.
For Henman, Sinner's Six Kings Slam performance against Novak Djokovic reflects how much his all-around game has evolved, especially in pressure moments against the rivals from the top.
While making his initial shot a reliable weapon, Jannik continues to raise the standard and admiration from experts and fans alike. Novak Djokovic surely felt impressed by that performance as well.
"Jannik's serve was simply incredible. In the first set, I think he made 83% of his first serve. He hardly dropped a point. He made nine aces against arguably the best returner our sport has ever seen.
That gives you a great foundation when you are comfortably ahead and can afford to be very aggressive from the baseline. It was an incredible performance," Tim Henman said.
