A year after the first triumph in Australia, Jannik Sinner by duty of victories agreed everyone: he is without a discussion the strongest player in the world, even beyond the first place in the ranking he has been dealing for a few months. Alex Zverev, number 2 ATP swept away in three sets in Melbourne, admits it clear and round, chasing the melancholy (“It’s a disgusting Star here and not being able to touch that cup …”) which brought him to the edge of tears: “You are the n.1 and a lot, you are too strong, of another planet, very, very similar to Djokovic when he was at the top”.
If the German pulls out of the competition, the experts try to understand who can undermine the throne, given that even the most accredited so far, Carlos Alcaraz, accuses too many decreases, while Daniil Medvedev has no longer recovered from the defeats inflicted on him by the blue In 2024. There is a talent on the horizon like Joao Fonseca, but he is only 18 years old and a long way to go. The comparison with the dominant Djokovic of years ago does not therefore seem to be risky, especially if you look at the performance of the allegedness on the concrete, where she has put together 21 wins in a row in the Slam tournaments. «It is the consecration of a great champion. Jannik is a span above the others. Now he will also have to demonstrate it on earth: the internationals could become an hypothesis. No goal is precluded to him, including that of winning the Grand Slam, “commented the federal president, Angelo Binaghi, who will lead a Fitp delegation to the Quirinale to celebrate with the President of the Republic next Wednesday, Sergio Mattarellathe successes of Italian tennis in 2024.
There will also be the captain of Davis, Filippo Volandri, who defines his leading player “extraordinary” who “continues to improve in everything despite being already n.1. And then he manages to fully enjoy and manage the difficult moments of a match That for others are only a reason for concern ». Now he is playing very well – he replied from Melbourne Simone Vagnozzi -, but you have to stay on the piece. On the cement it is very strong, but it can be ready to win Paris and also Wimbledon ». Many sinner colleagues and rivals have hurried to congratulate him on social media, from Alcaraz to Rafael Nadal to Djokovic, who after retiring in the semifinal with Zverev had wished the German to win the trophy. “Congratulations, impressive» writes for example Rafabut in the chorus of enthusiasts for the blue there is also the great Billie Jean King. Unanimous the applause choir in Italy, from Prime Minister Meloni to the Abadi and Santanchè ministers, to the President of Lombardy Fontana, but the ovation of the San Siro stadium also arrived from Milan, when during Milan-Paparma the speaker announced the victory to Melbourne of the Rossoneri fan and his face was projected on the maxi screen. In Turin, the fans gathered at the Teatro Regio, Temple of the lyric, for a direct organized by the Boys carrots.
The surrender of Pietrangeli: “He is exaggerating”
And in the end Nicola Pietrangeli was forced to abdicate. Jannik Sinner thought about dethroning him, still winning in Melbourne and thus conquering the third slam of his career. So one more than the former champion, blue icon and reference point of Italian tennis, who could boast the encore at Roland Garros as a player in 1959 and then the following year, in 1960. “But the records must be beaten – Pietrangeli says on the phone with Ansa -. Then the accounts will be made at the end of the careers, although now Jannik is exaggerating … (laughs, ed.). In any case, everything deserves it as it plays and how it behaves on the pitch and outside ». In the meantime, at the age of 23, Sinner is the Italian with several Slam ever on the bulletin board and it took him even less than Pietrangeli himself thought. “Two lives will not be enough to pass me,” the former tennis player born in Tunis said in October 2023. Words gave between serious and irony, what has always distinguished the communication of the two -time champion in Paris, but that a year and a half later return to the topicality because in 15 months Sinner has become n.1 in the world, won twice The Davis Cup, the Finals in Turin in 2024 and as said three Slam. “I hope people now stop thinking that I have it with him. Someone said that I rosica, but let alone,” says Pietrangeli still trying to turn off the controversies of the past who have never seen the response of the altitude. Because today “there is no tripe for cats” against Jannik, according to Pietrangeli. That he can beat him at this moment, at most he can lose if he is sick ». accused an illness.