Sinner, enjoying best season yet, says 'I have to improve'
Jannik Sinner’s 2024 season reads like a standout resumé. The 23-year-old has won six tour-level titles, including his first two major trophies at the 2024 Australian Open and, most recently, the US Open. In June, he achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Although the Italian has achieved remarkable success in 2024, he still believes there is another gear he can tap into. He hopes to continue that process starting this week at the China Open in Beijing.
“I have to improve a couple of things, which already me and my coach in the US Open swing needed to improve,” Sinner said. “We worked on that and also the physical shape. We tried to improve.”
For a period, a persistent hip injury hampered his form. Despite limitations brought on by the injury, Sinner persevered and lifted a tittle at the Cincinnati Open, with wins over Top 10 opponents Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev.
Sinner was then dominant at the US Open, the season’s final major. The World No. 1 defeated 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals and American No. 1 Taylor Fritz en route to the crown.
With his victory in New York, Sinner became the fourth man since 1988, when the Australian Open first switched to hard courts, to win both hard-court majors in the same year, joining Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Mats Wilander.
The 23-year-old’s serving performance separated him from the rest of the pack. Sinner won 87.5 per cent (91/104) of service games at the US Open, another example of what had already become a dominant serving performance in 2024. Since September 2023, Sinner has won 90.7 per cent of service games, more than three per cent higher than his 87. 5 per cent mark in 2023.
However, Sinner is looking to build even more upon his confidence in that area.
[ATP APP]“We are working a lot on the serve. We changed a couple of things there,” Sinner said. “Obviously, the motion I have now is slightly different and new, so I have to get used to it.”
Sinner is also looking to approach the net more often while finding a game style that incorporates a variety of shots.
Next for the Italian is his China Open title defence, which will begin Wednesday against big-serving Chilean Nicolas Jarry.
“I am very happy to be in the position I am in right now. The season is not over. There are some very important tournaments coming up,” Sinner said. “So hopefully I will be ready. One of my main goals for sure now is the year-end [Nitto ATP] Finals in Turin.”
Did You Know?
Sinner leads the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin by 4,305 points over second-placed Alexander Zverev. The Italian is trying to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours for the first time.