Just six months ago at Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner was not prepared for the challenge. Despite making it to his first grand slam semi-final, the Italian struggled to perform at his best under the intense pressure of facing Novak Djokovic. The audience on Centre Court couldn’t help but groan as Sinner made multiple errors in the third-set tie-break, making it a particularly memorable moment.
Even for the special, precocious players who seem to quickly rise to the top, success is a long process. For Sinner his growth has been clear and easy to follow: he reconfigured his team, hiring Simone Vagnozzi and the famed Australian coach, Darren Cahill. He changed his service motion and began to embrace the biggest moments instead of cowering from them. He has endured numerous tough defeats, but he handled his difficulties with perspective and maturity. It always seemed like he was on the path towards becoming a grand slam champion.
At the conclusion of the previous year, it was evident that this particular moment was on the horizon. Sinner finished the season in peak form, securing two ATP 500 titles, making it to the final of the ATP Finals, and leading Italy to victory in the Davis Cup. After such an impressive performance, which involved an incredible comeback from being down triple match point against Djokovic, it was difficult not to draw comparisons to Djokovic’s own journey. The beginning of Djokovic’s dominant era in 2011 was preceded by a significant Davis Cup victory at the end of 2010.
By the beginning of 2024, the only doubt left about Sinner’s qualifications was if he could handle playing at the top level in best-of-five set matches and successfully navigate the challenges that come with this format.
This past Sunday, he executed the role flawlessly and claimed his inaugural grand slam victory at the Australian Open. He overcame Daniil Medvedev with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Despite being down two sets to a much more seasoned adversary, Sinner remained composed and patiently seized the opportunity to reverse the outcome of the match.
“I enjoy dancing in the midst of pressure,” he stated. “Personally, I thrive under pressure as it brings out the best in my tennis game. I also remain calm in these situations because I always try to find joy on the court. In my opinion, pressure is a privilege.”
As Sinner reaches the pinnacle of his athletic career, he possesses all the necessary tools to further enhance his list of accomplishments. He has proven his versatility on various playing surfaces, progressing to the quarter-finals in all of the major tournaments. With his powerful shots and physical prowess, he is poised to excel in any environment.
Shortly after Sinner hit a winning forehand down the line to secure the match, Carlos Alcaraz was among the first to publicly praise him. It has been seven years since the launch of the ATP’s Next Gen project, as the sport recognized its dependence on the Big Three would eventually come to an end and sought out a new generation of top players. Despite the ATP’s call for a fresh face, Djokovic and Nadal continued to dominate and shatter the hopes of the younger players.
However, with the decline of the previous generation, only Djokovic remains at the top. Alcaraz and Sinner have emerged as the frontrunners of their generation. They possess their own formidable strengths, athleticism, and confidence, but also recognize the hard work and humility needed for success.
Both competitors have achieved their initial grand slam victories with remarkable skill and confidence. It is becoming evident that, unless hindered by injuries, they will dominate the sport in the upcoming years and engage in multiple intense matches for the top titles.
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Medvedev is the sole member of the Next Gen group to achieve a grand slam victory and establish himself as a top player in the sport. He has made remarkable progress in his career in recent years, despite not receiving as much attention as his peers. However, the manner in which he lost this match was agonizing. With a record of 1-5 in grand slam finals, he also became the first man to suffer defeat in two major finals after initially leading by two sets.
Medvedev’s ability to remain thoughtful and sincere in the face of painful defeats is truly remarkable. Despite these challenges, he will undoubtedly make a comeback.
“I am uncertain about what the future holds,” stated Medvedev. “However, I am determined to maintain the mindset of striving for success in the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments. In between, there may be other tournaments and if I choose to participate, it will be with the intention of winning. Otherwise, I would prefer to spend time at home with my family.”
Source: theguardian.com
