The Evolution of Sinner into a Grand Slam Champion: Settling Scores with Djokovic and Drawing Comparisons to Federer

Jannik Sinner, aged 22, achieved Grand Slam champion status on Sunday by winning the Australian Open, marking a significant moment for the emerging tennis generation. However, beyond this milestone, the key to his success lies in the dedication and motivation that fueled his journey.

Just six months ago, Sinner faced criticism for being perceived as mentally weak for major tournaments and too slender. At that point, his tennis resume included only one ATP 500 title (Washington 2021) and several smaller ones. However, his fortunes changed with standout performances at the Masters in Toronto and at home in Turin. Notably, he defeated Novak Djokovic in the group stages of the ATP Finals after earlier beating the Serbian player at the Davis Cup.

Although Djokovic prevailed in the final five days later, bringing Sinner back to reality, the experience served as motivation for the Italian to seek a rematch in Melbourne. His eventual victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final was made possible by overcoming the biggest favorite, Djokovic, in a crucial earlier match.

Is he truly Italian?

Sinner diverges from the stereotypical passionate temperament associated with Italians; instead, he exudes a composed and calm demeanor. Appropriately, his initial foray into the world of sports was on skis.

Hailing from the Tyrolean valley close to the ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, in proximity to the Austrian border, Sinner’s early achievements in ski races have been captured in videos circulating on social media. Demonstrating considerable talent, he clinched the Italian championship as a junior at the tender age of eight.

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He brought a measure of solace to his hometown of Sesto through his tennis triumph in Melbourne, particularly during a somber time following a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of a mother and her two children over the weekend. Mayor Thomas Summerer expressed the significance of Jannik Sinner’s remarkable achievement, bringing joy amid profound grief. Nearly 100 people gathered at the tennis hall to witness Sinner’s final match, providing positive emotions that offered comfort during a challenging period. Mayor Summerer acknowledged that, despite the impending funeral, Sinner’s success contributed positively to the community’s collective spirit.

The red-haired Tyrolean, having embarked on an eight-year journey that led him away from home and across the globe, has transformed from a prince to a king on the other side of the world. Sinner reflected on the challenges of growing up quickly, leaving home at the age of 14, and adapting to independent living, including cooking and doing his own laundry. His recent success in Melbourne underscored his maturity, as he faced top-30 players in five of his seven matches and three top-five world-ranked opponents, handling the challenges with the composure of a seasoned professional rather than a young talent.

Crucial Moments: Sinner Secures Victory Over Rublev 6-4, 7-6, 6-3

Following Sinner’s success in the first set, Rublev initiated a strong offensive. In the second set, the Russian relentlessly targeted Sinner’s serve, but the Italian thwarted all four break points. In the tiebreak, despite trailing 5-2, Sinner staged an impressive comeback, winning five consecutive points and diminishing Rublev’s belief in securing his first Grand Slam quarter-final victory on his tenth attempt.

Sinner vs Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3

While much has been said about Djokovic’s subpar performance, Sinner’s excellence should not go unnoticed. He defeated the world number one with a remarkably consistent serve, allowing Djokovic to win only 28 points on Sinner’s serve throughout the entire match. Another noteworthy statistic is that Sinner did not concede a single break point to Djokovic in the semi-final.

Sinner vs Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

In the early stages of the match, few would have favored Jannik Sinner. The pressure of his first Grand Slam final seemed overwhelming as he trailed 6-3, 5-1, losing half of his service games. However, his resilience showed when he broke back, narrowing the deficit in the ultimately lost second set. The turnaround was gradual but steady, and from that point onward, the young Italian did not surrender his serve. Medvedev, who was losing energy, was eventually overwhelmed.

Key Statistics:

1

Jannik Sinner secured his inaugural Grand Slam victory, marking a historic achievement as the first Italian to conquer Melbourne. Additionally, he broke the streak of titles exclusively claimed by the tennis triumvirate of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, becoming the first man outside this trio to clinch the title since 2014.

Statistical Highlights:

22+165

Sinner, at 22 years and 165 days old during his victory against Daniil Medvedev, earned the distinction of being the youngest Australian Open winner since Novak Djokovic’s triumph in 2008. Furthermore, he replicated the accomplishment of Bjorn Borg from almost 50 years ago. Similar to Borg’s turnaround from a 0-2 deficit in the 1974 Roland Garros final at the age of 18, Sinner is now the second-youngest player to achieve such a feat in the Open era.

17

Jannik Sinner conquered the Grand Slam challenge on his seventeenth attempt, mirroring the number of attempts it took Roger Federer to secure his first major title at Wimbledon in 2003. Federer clinched victory just before his 22nd birthday, a comparable age to the current Australian Open champion; Sinner turned 22 five months ago. Adding to the coincidence, Federer’s contemporary Lleyton Hewitt already possessed two Grand Slam trophies, akin to Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner’s primary competitor.

Winning the initial Grand Slam of the season propels Sinner to fourth place in the ATP rankings. However, there is a strong likelihood that the Italian will surpass his career high in the forthcoming weeks. Particularly, Daniil Medvedev’s ranking is at risk, with Sinner trailing him by only 455 points, and the Russian defending substantial points from last year’s prosperous spring. Sinner also eyes Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in the rankings.

Not content with fourth place, Sinner affirms his determination to climb higher. “As soon as the final was over, I talked to my coach about areas I should enhance to sustain opportunities to win tournaments like this,” indicating his strong work ethic and ambitious mindset.

In recent months, Sinner arguably stands as the most dominant tennis player globally. He has emerged victorious in ten of his last eleven matches, with the sole setback being the aforementioned loss to Djokovic in Turin in November.