Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Jannik Sinner he has reached the top, but he insists that he is motivated to improve rather than to set records first.
Australian Open champion Sinner is the top seed in Madrid for the first time, leads the ATP with a 25-2 record and is No. 1 in the ATP Race to Turin.
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Then there are his peers, like the world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who announced that the 22-year-old Italian is already the best in the world.
“He is the best player in the world right now,” Alcaraz told reporters in Madrid. “I think [some] think his tennis ball is not good on clay, but he has had results on clay as well.
“He can win every tournament he goes to, and obviously I'm fighting with him and Novak to be number one. I'm trying to stay there, but honestly it's going to be difficult.”
Although he is world No. 1 Novak Djokovic with just 1,330 ranking points, Sinner says he is driven by progress rather than reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Omoni says that he does not see himself at the level of Djokovic or Alcaraz because they have achieved a lot on the big stages.
“I think it's a tough question to answer,” Sinner said when asked if he was better. “We always see only this moment and I think sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not good.
“I still believe that you cannot compare yourself to Novak and everything he has done. And the same for Carlos. Carlos also won more than me.
“I have a lot of respect for both of them. I'm just trying to play my game, I'm trying to understand what works best for me and then we'll see what I can achieve.”
The top Sinner will face two Davis Cup partners Lorenzo Sonego or Richard Gasquet in his opening match against Madrid.
Photo credit: Matteo Villalba/Getty
