After clinching his first Grand Slam title on the Australian Open, a poised Jannik Sinner is ready for no matter lies forward, expressing his fondness for “dancing in the pressure storm.”
Since making a splash on the tennis scene as a 17-year-old in 2019, the Italian has been hailed as a future star of the game.
His journey to the highest, culminating in a hard-fought five-set overcome Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne on Sunday, displays a five-year battle, but the exceptionally proficient younger participant is dealing with it with composure.
“I’m extremely happy that I am in this position now. I have a great team behind me who knows what I have to do,” he mentioned of the additional highlight that may now inevitably fall on him.
He pointed to having Darren Cahill in his nook as a coach, with the Australian having been there and completed that.
Cahill guided Lleyton Hewitt to grow to be the second-youngest participant ranked world No. 1 earlier than teaching Andre Agassi to grow to be the oldest participant to attain the feat.
He has additionally labored with a bunch of different high-profile gamers, together with Andy Murray and Simona Halep, guiding the Romanian to the French Open title.
“With Darren, he has a lot of experience. He has been through this already a number of times,” mentioned Sinner.
“So, you understand, it is all a part of the method. Obviously having this trophy, it is a tremendous feeling. I really feel grateful to have this right here.
“But I know that I have to work even harder because the opponents will find a way to beat me, and I have to be prepared. Let’s see what’s coming in the future.”
A placing facet of Sinner’s time in Melbourne was his calm and composed demeanor, even when he discovered himself in bother.
Against an ultraaggressive Medvedev, he didn’t panic when he fell two units behind, as an alternative searching for chinks within the Russian’s armor, and when an opportunity arose, he took it.
“There is always pressure, but pressure is something good. You have to take it in a good way. It’s a privilege, no?” he mentioned.
“So yes, I like to dance in the pressure storm. Personally, I like it because that’s where most of the time I bring out my best tennis. I’m also quite relaxed on this occasion because I always try to enjoy being on the court.”
The 22-year-old is the primary Italian man to win a Slam since Adriano Panatta in 1976 and the youngest man to win the Australian Open since Novak Djokovic in 2008.
It capped a extremely profitable six months for Sinner, who clinched his maiden ATP Masters crown in Toronto final August.
He backed that up with titles in Beijing and Vienna earlier than reaching the championship match on house soil at November’s ATP Finals and guiding Italy to Davis Cup success.
For Sinner, it has been the results of long-term considering by him and his group.
“I think what I did not last year, but two years ago, getting to know my body better, getting to know my team better. This was a very important step for me,” he mentioned.
“Then final 12 months we tried to have some extra outcomes. That made me consider that I can compete in opposition to the perfect gamers on the planet.
“But (right here) I nonetheless must course of it as a result of beating Novak within the semis after which Daniil within the remaining, they’re robust gamers to beat.
“So it’s a great moment for me and my team, but we also know that we have to improve if we want to have another chance to hold a big trophy again.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
