Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Saturday, April 27, 2024
After winning his first title at the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner she had his stand on stress management.
“I like to dance under a storm of pressure… I love it, because that's where I often bring out my best tennis,” Sinner said after roaring to victory. Daniel Medvedev in the AO finals.
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Today, Sinner kicked up a clay storm in Madrid.
Top-seeded Sinner rattled off seven straight games in a 6-0, 6-3 Davis Cup doubles demolition of a partner and friend. Lorenzo Sonego.
It was a statement start for Sinner, who is seeded first in the Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career. The sinner acts as the main man of tennis.
Sinner, who changed his service position from pinning to serving up last summer, was nearly flawless in serving. Soni worked at 69 percent, won 25 of 29 points and ripped the first strikes in the corners running backhand mistakes from Sonego.
The standout Sinner is now 26-2 in 2024 and 13-0 against fellow Italians.
The challenge for the Miami Open champion is to adapt his early aggressive style that saw him light up hard courts to slow red clay without losing that kind of assertiveness.
Umoni says it's about finding the right balance between power and endurance in slow terrain.
“We came here very early, so we tried to prepare in the best possible way. But otherwise, I work hard in the gym physically,” said Sinner. “I have to accept a few other things while playing the game, but it's in my mind. I know this.
“I'm trying to find a good rhythm here, and what's the most important goal and I'm at my best at Roland Garros, no? I think this is a goal for all of us. So, yes, I am happy to be here. I mean, last year I couldn't play here, so I was even happier. Then we'll see how it goes this year.”
Although Sinner has won just one of his 13 career clay-court titles and his best Roland Garros result came in a quarterfinal appearance in 2020, he is a very dominant player now.
In a season that has seen Sinner upset the best players in the world, can he find the right balance on the slippery side as he heads to Rome, Roland Garros and the Olympic Games all played on clay.
“Then I dream, I dream big, I dream of winning as many titles as possible,” said Sinner. “I made a lot of sacrifices by leaving home when I was 14, and this is on my mind.
“I work hard every day to become a better player every day, which is the main goal. If you work hard, if you wake up in the morning with the intention of getting better, this is very important.
“The hours you put in you have to be very focused on the job. But when you're done with the job you also need people around you who are good to you, give them something good for you, and I think you have to find the right balance that I'm trying to do.”
Photo credit: Matteo Villalba/Getty
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