Beyond that, Djokovic put paid to his analysis. He is, or should be, swollen with confidence as he prepares to clash with his most distinguished understudy, who shows no signs of having been psychically scarred by his epic Roland Garros final loss.

This scenario, in which a protégé is charged with laying low his mentor, is not unfamiliar. But it is always compelling. In this case it is enhanced by their history as well as the striking similarity between Sinner, the pale youth at the peak of the sport, and the grizzled champion.

Both men are rangy, lean, athletic sharpshooters whose shots are remarkably grooved and precise.

“I think it’s obvious that in style we have quite a bit of similarities,” Djokovic said, earlier in the tournament. “We try to take the ball early, be aggressive, dominate the exchange from the baseline.”

Sinner concurred: “I still believe we are different players, no? [But] We do have a couple of similarities in a way of how we maybe hit the ball on the forehand and backhand. He mixes up the game a little bit more. I may be a little bit the faster hitter. But in the other way, I’m also quite consistent, like he is.”