Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner’s model attracts comparisons to Novak Djokovic

Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with Norman Brookes Problem Cup the morning after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany within the males’s singles remaining on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: AP

Of all of the reward bestowed on Jannik Sinner after he received his second consecutive Australian Open championship, and third Grand Slam title total, nothing felt as vital because the comparability made by runner-up Alexander Zverev.

Going through Sinner, notably on onerous courts, reminded Zverev a variety of making an attempt to resolve the problem offered by none apart from 24-time main champion Novak Djokovic.

“He’s very, similar to Novak when he was at his finest. They barely miss. Like, barely miss. They make you assume like it’s important to overhit on a regular basis to have an opportunity in a rally towards them,” Zverev stated after dropping to Sinner 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 at Melbourne Park on Sunday night time.

“It’s very, very troublesome to win a degree from the again of the courtroom towards them — towards Novak and him,” stated Zverev, who’s ranked No. 2 however felt a lot additional away from No. 1 Sinner in Rod Laver Area. “(Each) transfer, clearly, super. They’re continually on the baseline. They don’t offer you any area. They don’t offer you any time.”

Sinner, nonetheless simply 23, is a good distance from attaining only a fraction of what Djokovic has at 37, after all.

And simply as Djokovic had a few hurdles by the names of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to cope with, Sinner just isn’t alone among the many latest era of tennis stars. His prime rival at this level is Carlos Alcaraz, who has 4 Slam victories at age 21 — and received all three matches he performed towards Sinner in 2024.

Nonetheless, it made sense to consider Djokovic whereas watching Sinner prolong his report in main finals to 3-0, which features a U.S. Open title in September.

The never-give-an-inch courtroom protection. The squeaking sneakers whereas sprinting, stretching, sliding to achieve photographs that almost all different gamers would not. The power to flip from protection to offense in a break up second. The wherewithal and reflexes to neutralize even the largest servers.

Add all of it up — plus a serve ok to keep away from any break factors towards Zverev — and Sinner is actually formidable.

These Djokovic-like tendencies should not mere coincidence.

Sinner, who’s from Italy, modeled himself after the Serbian star.

“Sport style-wise I appeared as much as him, making an attempt to grasp what he’s doing, how he handles the strain moments and essential moments,” Sinner stated. “I nonetheless consider we’re totally different as gamers, as a result of everyone seems to be totally different, however for positive now we have similarities. The similarities are having fairly clear ball-striking from the baseline, having good motion, understanding a bit of bit the place your opponent (goes to play) the ball.”

The swift enchancment Sinner has revamped the previous couple of years is unmistakable.

It is why he ascended atop the rankings final June and hasn’t budged. It is why he’s 80-6 with 9 titles because the begin of final season. It is why nobody needs to play him nowadays.

Zverev was 4-2 towards Sinner earlier than Sunday, together with wins on the U.S. Open in 2021 and 2023.

How a lot has Sinner modified since then?

“He serves higher. He returns higher. He hits his forehand higher. He hits his backhand higher. He strikes higher. He volleys higher. I imply, there’s nothing that he doesn’t do higher proper now,” Zverev stated. “I bear in mind these matches. Earlier than, I at all times felt like as soon as I used to be getting on prime of the rally, I used to be profitable most of these rallies. Now it’s like he’s prime Novak. It’s so troublesome to undergo him.”

The upcoming job will likely be to get higher on clay and grass, the surfaces on the French Open and Wimbledon. Earlier than play begins at Roland Garros in Could, Sinner has a listening to scheduled in April within the World Anti-Doping Company’s attraction of a ruling that cleared him in a doping case.

“For the time being, I’m not serious about this,” Sinner stated. “After all, you have got your moments, (on) sure days, the place you’re feeling like: ‘I want I’d not have this drawback.’”

Sinner and his two coaches, Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, all discuss lots about placing in onerous work to develop much more as a participant.

“He is nonetheless younger. … You by no means know what’s (going to) occur sooner or later, however for positive, he’s a man that tries to enhance day-after-day — happening courtroom, (in) observe, making an attempt to place new issues (in) his sport, making an attempt to enhance bodily,” Vagnozzi stated. “He is one of many guys that may attain the highest stage. I imply, after we talk about prime stage, we take into consideration Novak, about Roger or Rafa.”