By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, April 27, 2024
In the afterglow of winning his maiden major title at the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner shared his stance on stress management.
“I like to dance in the pressure storm… I like it, because that’s where most of the time I bring out my best tennis,” Sinner said after roaring back from a two-set deficit to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the AO final.
Today, Sinner kicked up a clay cyclone in Madrid.
The top-seeded Sinner stormed through seven straight games in a 6-0, 6-3 demolition of Davis Cup doubles partner and buddy Lorenzo Sonego.
It was a statement start from Sinner, who is seeded first at a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his life. Sinner performed like tennis’ main man.
Sinner, who switched his service stance from a pin-point to a step-up service motion last summer, was nearly flawless on serve. Sinner served 69 percent, won 25 of 29 first-serve points and repeatedly ripped first strikes into the corners rattling out running backhand errors from Sonego.
A dominant Sinner is now 26-2 in 2024 and 13-0 vs. fellow Italians.
The challenge the Miami Open champion faces is in adapting his aggressive baseline style that has seen him light up hard courts to slower red clay without losing that assertive edge.
Sinner says it’s about finding the right balance between power and patience on the slower surface.
“We came here quite early, so we tried to prepare in the best possible way. But in the other way, I’m working very hard in the gym physically,” Sinner said. “I have to accept a couple of things more while I play the match, but it’s in my mind. I know this.
“This is me trying to find a good rhythm here, and which the main goal is then be in top form in Roland Garros, no? I think this is the goal of all of us. So, yeah, I’m just happy to be here. I mean, last year I was not able to play here, so even more excited. Then we see how it goes this year.”
Though Sinner has won only one of his 13 career titles on clay and his best Roland Garros result came with a 2020 quarterfinal appearance, he’s a much more commanding player now.
In a season that has seen Sinner unsettle the best players in the world, can he find the right balance on the slippery stuff as he takes aim at Rome, Roland Garros and the Olympic Games all staged on dirt.
“Then of course I dream, I dream big, I dream to win as many titles as possible,” Sinner said. “I made a lot of sacrifices going away from home when I was 14, and this is still in my mind.
“I’m working hard every day to become a better player day after day, which is the main goal. When you work hard, when you wake up in the morning with the goal of becoming better, this is very important.
“The hours you put in, you have to be very focused about the work. But then when you finish the work, you also need people around you who are good to you, give something positive to you, and I think you have to find the right balance which I’m trying to do.”
Photo credit: Matteo Villalba/Getty
