Two is just a number, Jannik is right, but it allows us to make precise calculations: Djokovic’s treasure (1,015 points ahead, accumulated when he was still the Djoker and not an uncrowned king) can be eroded on clay, the land of conquest on which the champion of the Miami Open from Monte Carlo to Paris defends just 585 points against the 2,315 of the Serbian (and 2,265 of Alcaraz, third in the rankings by a gap). Yet the first to keep the dream hooked to reality is himself, Sinner, the only Italian open construction site that travels at supersonic speed, the boy who yesterday took the plane from Florida to Nice, destination Montecarlo, with the first training of the season (3rd title of 13, second Master 1000: in the Race to Turin in three months he scored more points, 3900, than Rune needed to qualify for the Master last year, 3460) on brick dust : «Thursday», he announces with a big smile of his.
The work ethic
The road, before the finish line: «From Indian Wells to Miami everything changes. I didn’t start off great but with each passing day I was more comfortable and I raised my level dramatically in the semi-final with Medvedev and in the final with Dimitrov. This is the thing I’m most proud of.” The work ethic, before the sensation of the crystal of the trophy chased three times in the hands (two furtive caresses, almost ashamed): «My father and my mother still work, nothing will change in the Sinner family now that I’m n. 2 in the world. We are all very normal. I care about tennis, more about life. They will continue on their way, I will continue on mine. Maybe they will come to Monte Carlo and Rome, the most important thing is that they are well. If I’m happy, they are too and everything is fine.” The group, before the ego and the sequins: «My coaches prepare me for the matches and think about everything that I don’t get to. I’m only 22 years old, after all.”
Italy’s boyfriend
Here he is, Italy’s boyfriend, the athlete for whom half of Miami queued at the Hard Rock stadium, the predestined (“At work: only in this way do the results arrive” Jannik specifies) with the ability to be the man right in the right place at the right time, and never mind if never having faced Roger Federer will forever remain a small regret. In addition to his charisma on the pitch, he has a natural predisposition to be funny off the field, when finding himself at the center of attention embarrasses him: it happened with Spalletti’s national team, with Serena Williams, with Laura Pausinidomenica after the triumph. Then Sinner becomes a shy boy again, he begins to sway on one leg and then on the other cracking his knuckles, which is what he does when he doesn’t know where to put his hands.
The normality of the Sinner household is the antidote to take with you into the chaotic madness of existence on the circuit, together with girlfriend Maria, also present in Florida, whom Jannik asked not to appear, not to post photos together, not to do anything to get noticed (only exception: Milan in the Champions League at San Siro, together, last December). It’s the only topic he doesn’t like to talk about: love. He has noticed the social hatred unleashed by Berrettini’s relationship with Melissa Satta, he fears that a defeat could be linked to his private life. But Maria is there, she has an important role. As coach Darren Cahill explains: «Each of us contributes to Jannik’s well-being as a man and as a player. No one excluded.”
The 7 month long transformation
Miami is the windy and humid piece of a transformation that has been underway for seven months, he himself traces the change of gear back to Toronto, August 2023, the Master 1000 which unlocked processes already underway, in my head (“That victory it helped on a mental level: I remember the good feeling but there is never time to enjoy anything, the next day I was already in Cincinnati, the next day I was playing a tournament again»), in the body (“My improvement the bigger the physical: I don’t like the gym but I understand its value because now I can stay on the court for hours without losing my level»), in the technique (“The serve has improved a lot”, especially the second ball). In the American swing, in addition to his exceptional hitting skills, he was amazed by the careful preparation of the matches, from Kokkinakis in the second round of Indian Wells to the final in Miami, thanks to the synergy between the coach present (Cahill) and the coach absent (Vagnozzi returns from Monte Carlo), and who knows what would have happened in California if Jannik hadn’t suffered a decline in the semi-final with Alcaraz, but it’s certainly not worth dwelling on spilled milk.
Sinner is already beyond it (“I always struggle a little when transitioning to clay, we’ll see, but everything will be different: we’ll start from scratch”), aware of the revolution he is imposing on a tennis that has been almost immobile during the three decades of the Immortals ( “If I said I expected all this, I would be lying. But beating Djokovic twice between Turin and Davis meant a lot to me, the off-season was excellent: I took my confidence and progress with me into 2024.”) willing not to dramatize when defeat knocks on his door: «There are players who love to celebrate long after a success. I’m not like that. Knowing that I will return to work soon to improve myself is the only plan that makes me feel good.”
Cahill – who, it is clear, after two years already loves him like a son – asks not to make comparisons. Jannik writes history for himself, certainly not to surpass Pietrangeli and Panatta nor to emulate the Big Three, or what remains of them. “I don’t think it’s right to compare the new generation, Jannik, Alcaraz and Rune, to Federer, Nadal and Djokvovic,” said the Australian coach in Miami. We will never see such total, definitive domination again. We need to give these kids time to establish themselves, find their place in tennis, gain their experiences. Jannik respects everyone but he is not afraid of anyone.”
The Monte Carlo draw is born on Friday, the third Master 1000 of the season. Waiting for the inevitable overtaking, Sinner will be seeded no. 2, behind Djokovic. Another red dawn is announced over the world.
2024-04-02 05:09:32
#Sinner #working #family #girlfriend #doesnt #change #number
