Jannik Sinner (Photo Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner will be the tennis player most awaited by the public at the Nitto ATP Finals 2023, which begins next Sunday at the Pala Alpitour in Turin. The Italian qualified for the season-ending event with fourth place in the race, which will be his second appearance at the “Masters” after his debut in 2021 as a replacement for the very unfortunate Matteo Berrettini, who retired after a set against Zverev. In a quick chat with the tournament’s official website, Jannik confirmed his satisfaction with qualifying for the final, which was the main goal of his season, and outlined his mantra for the upcoming tournament: approach every game with courage.
Sinner comes to Turin in excellent technical and physical condition and with great self-confidence. This fall he defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev one after the other, in early October in Beijing, took the Chinese 500 meters trophy and then repeated this in Vienna, where he again defeated Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Having finally beaten a very difficult player like Medvedev, against whom he had only lost so far, and having a direct lead against Alcaraz, can give him an additional mental boost to take part in a tournament at the highest level, where only Top player goes player, like the final. Jannik answers: “I would say that from a certain point of view it affects you a little, but in your head you know that every game when you step onto the field is completely different.” Of course you can feel it. It may be that some play styles suit me a little better than others, but I think overall you just have to be ready for the day. Don’t think about the past, even if you are in a head-to-head situation. You always have to be really brave, that’s the spirit with which I have to enter the field.
The victories against Daniil were a masterpiece, technically and physically, but also mentally. “I think the tennis was more important than the mental aspect because I changed my game a little bit against him,” admits Sinner. “Before I didn’t feel ready and trained every day the right way to get there. So I tried it in the match, it went well. Of course it’s also a mental question, because you have to be ready for it in the game too. So I think it’s a mix of tennis and also the mental side.”
Jannik can’t wait to play as he knows that the Turin crowd will be completely on his side: “The audience will support me and of course I will do my best to make all the fans happy. I will try to win as many games as possible.” . I have to enjoy the moment too. It will be special for me and I hope it will be a good tournament,” concludes the Italian.
Marco Mazzoni
