By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Jannik Sinner has reached the highest of the road, however insists he is impressed by enchancment somewhat than rising to a historic first.
Australian Open champion Sinner is high seed in Madrid for the primary time, leads the ATP with a 25-2 file and is No. 1 within the ATP Race to Turin.
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Then there are his friends, like world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who declare the 22-year-old Italian is already the perfect on the planet.
“He is the perfect participant on the planet proper now,” Alcaraz informed the media in Madrid. “I believe [some] suppose his tennis does not go well with nicely to the clay, however he is had outcomes on clay as nicely.
“He can win each event he goes to, and clearly I am preventing with him and Novak to be primary. I am making an attempt to remain there, however truthfully it should be troublesome.”
Although he trails world No. 1 Novak Djokovic by simply 1,330 rating factors, Sinner says he is pushed by making progress somewhat than reaching the head of the game.
Sinner says he does not see himself on Djokovic or Alcaraz’s degree but as a result of they’ve achieved extra on larger levels.
“I believe it’s a tricky query to reply,” Sinner stated when requested if he is the perfect. “We at all times see solely this second and I believe that generally it’s good but additionally not good.
“I nonetheless consider that you just can’t examine myself with Novak with all that he has carried out. And the identical goes for Carlos. Additionally Carlos received greater than me.
“I’ve numerous respect for each of them. I simply attempt to play my recreation, making an attempt to grasp what works finest for me after which we see what I can obtain.”
The highest-seeded Sinner will face both Davis Cup doubles companion Lorenzo Sonego or Richard Gasquet in his Madrid opener.
Photograph credit score: Matteo Villalba/Getty