'Jannik Sinner is a big match player like Novak Djokovic – more so than Carlos Alcaraz', says tennis great
11/10/2024 09:37 AM
Former world No 1 Mats Wilander has proclaimed that Jannik Sinner is “a big time, big match” player in a similar vein to Novak Djokovic ahead of the 2024 ATP Finals.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion believes Sinner performs “better when the pressure is on” and lauded the Italian’s consistent level during his Australian Open and US Open title runs.
Sinner has a lead of over 4,000 points at the top of the ATP Rankings having become the world No 1 for the first time in June.
The 23-year-old has secured seven titles from the eight finals he has reached in an outstanding 2024 campaign and he has won 10 of his last 12 title matches stretching back to last year.
The Italian — who has won two Grand Slams, three Masters 1000 titles and two ATP 500s this year — is the favourite to claim his maiden ATP Finals crown in Turin. He will face Alex de Minaur in his opening match at the year-end championships.
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Speaking to Eurosport, Wilander highlighted the way Sinner has overcome injury issues this season.
"Sinner is very difficult to know at this stage because he’s had some injuries,” the Swede said.
“Obviously, he’s trying to put a lot of muscle on and get stronger. The question is, when you do that, can your body handle it?
“I’m a firm believer that your natural body shape is what your joints and what your bones can handle. If you add five, 10, 15 kilos of muscle, can your body still handle it?
"In general, not just physically, but also mentally and in terms of viruses and illnesses and whatever. He’s had a lot of injuries. He’s had a lot of issues.
“How has he won seven tournaments in 2024 when he’s had issues pretty much the whole year, back and forth?"
The tennis legend then argued Sinner has proven this year that he is closer to Djokovic when it comes to big match prowess than Carlos Alcaraz is.
"It goes to show he’s a big, big, big time, big match player," Wilander continued. "That’s one thing that I was not sure about a few years ago.
“I knew Alcaraz was. Now it’s very, very clear. Sinner is a big time, big match player a la Novak Djokovic, more so than Alcaraz in a way, because Sinner shows up, plays the same way, except better when the pressure is on, and he doesn’t have any dips in his tennis throughout the whole tournament of the US Open or throughout the whole of the Australian Open.
"He is the favourite [in Turin]. But again, can his body handle another tough week of five matches against the top eight in the world? That is not easy."
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