Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither was Jannik Sinner. Having become a solid top 10 player in 2023, the Italian transformed himself into the boss of world tennis in 2024, winning two Grand Slam titles, the ATP Finals, and becoming the world No 1. A logical progression for a player, who possesses tremendous talent but still has enormous room for improvement.
So how did Jannik Sinner become this consistent monster in 2024, with a record of 73 wins to just six losses? Quite simply, hard work. In an interview with Tennis Magazine, the latest issue of which was published on December 20, 2024, the Italian talked about his superb 2024 and his evolution—the fruits of labour that began a long time ago.
“The results don’t come directly,” Sinner said (translated). “I’ve worked hard over the last few years to find a way to be effective in the important moments. I thought I was a great player when I got into the 10, but I didn’t feel capable of beating the best in the world. So I had to add something to my game.
“Little by little, we managed to do just that. When Simone Vagnozzi joined my team, I started to vary my game more, and even today I do a lot of variations in training. In matches, sometimes I do it well, sometimes not so well. But in my head, I know it’s the right way.
We’ve been working for a year and a half to be able to use these strokes in matches. And it’s precisely since mid-2023 that I’ve been putting everything in place; the serve, in particular, has become a more important weapon, especially in important moments.”
