2024 proves that Jannik Sinner has no weaknesses

11/25/2024 03:00 PM

Jannik Sinner's season ended in style thanks to Italy's triumph at the Davis Cup Finals. Italy confirmed that they are the best team in the world in Malaga by replicating last year's victory, when the feat against Novak Djokovic's Serbia in the semifinals was decisive.

In this edition, Italy's run was much easier. The team led by Filippo Volandri risked only in the first tie against Argentina due to Lorenzo Musetti's defeat against Francisco Cerundolo.

However, the impact of the world number 1 has been sensational in both singles and doubles alongside his compatriot Matteo Berrettini. In the semifinals against Australia and in the final against the Netherlands, Volandri replaced Musetti with Berrettini in singles and Italy has not lost a point on a very fast surface.

The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria ended his season with two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open and US Open), three Masters 1000 (Miami, Cincinnati and Shanghai), two ATP 500 (Rotterdam and Halle), the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup.

In addition, Jannik became the first player since Roger Federer in 2005 to have won at least one set in every match played this season. The 2-time Grand Slam champion has suffered only six defeats this year, achieving more than 90% of wins.

Italian tennis is going through a truly incredible moment on both the men's and women's tour. Sinner's rise has been beneficial for the whole movement and these two successes in a row in the Davis Cup are the certification of the great work done in recent years. Volandri admitted that he would understand if Jannik decided to skip this competition in 2025, but the hope of Italian fans is that this will not happen.

The world number 1 will now take a small break before starting his preparation for next season. The Italian ace will go to Dubai together with his new fitness coach Marco Panichi and will not play any official tournament before the Australian Open.

During the press conference after the triumph in Malaga, Matteo Berrettini - who was fundamental in this edition - praised Sinner's attitude on and off the court: “I think I speak for everyone, it’s a special experience. Last year when we were here, we looked at each other and said ‘this guy is special, he is different’.

We had never seen anyone hit so hard, so flat and make so few mistakes. It seemed like he never made mistakes. Since then he has only lost six matches and proved to be the best in the world.

But as you have seen, he is the most humble player there is. He came here as if he had not won the ATP Finals. He showed great respect for the team.

Before entering the doubles against Argentina, he asked the whole team if anyone was okay with that decision and that is something special.

His tennis is incredible … but it is about how he manages everything off the court and the way he relates to people.”

Jannik has become an example for all his compatriots and his recent successes have brought many people closer to tennis. The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has become the best player in the world thanks to his hard work and his desire to improve, which has remained intact despite his status changing.

The 2-time Grand Slam champion knows he can still improve in some areas of the game and will work on these aspects during the pre-season, but first he will enjoy some well-deserved rest.

Sinner will have to defend a lot of points in 2025 and will also have to wait for the CAS's decision on his future. If he is disqualified, Jannik could lose his first position in the ATP ranking and it would be a great shame. The world number 1 revealed that three hearings of the trial have already taken place and that there will soon be the fourth.

Recently, top coach Patrick Mouratoglou revealed Jannik’s main skill: “I think what makes Sinner very special is his ability to play at an incredibly high pace without missing.

I think he is one of the guys who plays the fastest because of the way he hits the ball but also because of his movement. He is moving forward all the time. That makes it extremely difficult to play against him. Plus, his movement is unbelievable.

Basically when you attack him, he counter punches. He has the qualities of Novak in terms of counter-punching and I think he plays at a higher pace than Novak, taking the balls earlier, moving forward more.”