Jannik Sinner: “It’s a compliment to be compared to Agassi”

Jannik Sinner He is undoubtedly one of the great names of the new golden generation of tennis. The Italian player aspires to be one of the dominators of the circuit in the coming years, although to tell the truth he has been the only one of the most outstanding tennis players of the 21st century who has worsened his ranking in the 2022 season, marked above all by various physical problems. However, he has reaped good results in the Grand Slams and until the US Open quarterfinal match he was the great nightmare of Carlos Alcaraz.

This good performance in some tournaments makes him speak well of his season despite not having had the expected regularity when the year began. Something that he reflects on in an interview with Corriere del Veneto in recent days, where he also talks about his goals for 2023, who are his main rivals on the circuit and what has improved since he started working with his new coach. , Simone VangozYo. In addition, he also refers to what it means for him to have been compared to Agassi even by the player himself.

Last season

“Complicated, I won’t hide it. Despite it all though, there are many positives that I bring to the new year. The point is that several physical problems stopped me at the most beautiful moment of important tournaments. In the round of 16 in Paris, but also in the quarterfinals in Miami and Rome. And people remember this and I think so too. But then I do a more complete and rational analysis and, as I said, the season, although difficult and complicated, has many positive aspects”.

He came to affirm in previous interviews that it was even his best year

“Paradoxically yes, because I kept working hard and playing many high-level matches, many of which I won. I reached the quarterfinals in three Grand Slams and in three Masters 1000, I won the title in Umag beating Alcaraz, who was the best player of the year. I have always measured myself against the strongest and this is a wealth of fundamental experience that has enriched me compared to other years”.

Ability to do well in Grand Slams and his improvement on grass

“At five sets I am very competitive, there the mental and physical factor counts a lot. In that sense, I think I have reached an important level of experience and that gives me a lot of confidence. As for Wimbledon, he had never won a grass match and had very little experience. And instead I beat very strong players like Wawrinka, Isner and Alcaraz, before losing in five sets to Djokovic, who went on to win the tournament for the seventh time.

Comparison with Agassi and Wimbledon as a possible first Grand Slam

“The comparison with Agassi is a huge compliment. I don’t set any limits, my goal is to increase my confidence even more when I play on grass, the more I know, the more we can become… friends.”

Aspects that have improved with the new team

“In the service, in the game on the network and more generally in the variants. The speed of my first serve improved, I hit more aces and serve winners. We work on the volley technique and especially the synchronization between attack and volley. Tactically, we have added variations such as drop and serve and volleyball. The important thing is to understand at what point in the exchange or score to use them. That’s why I can’t wait to start the new season”.

Goals for 2023

“I don’t look too much at the ranking, but improving the ranking will be a good consequence. But certainly my goal is to be at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in front of the Italian crowd. It would mean being among the best eight players of the year and having had a very good season”.

main rivals

“Of my generation: Alcaraz, Rune, Auger-Aliassime and Musetti. The group of 24-26 years Zverev, Medvedev, Tsitispas, Ruud, Berrettini and Rublev. And, of course, Nadal and Djokovic, incredible legends who still have things to give.”