ATP: Jannik Sinner praises Rafael Nadal, criticizes Alexander Zverev
Jannik Sinner ended the tennis year 2020 in Sofia with his first title on the ATP tour. In an interview with the Corriere della Sera, the South Tyrolean drew his personal balance.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Nov 27, 2020, 12:53 pm
Jannik Sinner won the last single point on the regular ATP tour in 2020. The 19-year-old Italian converted in Sofia in the final of the 250 tournament there in the tiebreak of the third set against Vasek Pospisil to his premiere title at the highest level in men's tennis. The 19-year-old has played 30 games this year, 19 of which have won. Jannik Sinner has also learned from the eleven defeats, especially the one against Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals from Roland Garros. The teenager got off to an impressive start. But still had to admit defeat to the Spanish grandmaster in three sets.
"Nadal is superior in his head," Sinner explained in a conversation with the Corriere della Sera. "He's always under pressure, but the most important thing is that he understands the crucial moments. He's really something special as a tennis player. What do I still need to get there? I would say: a little bit of everything. The doctors told me that I'm not yet fully grown and still have to develop. The truth is, I have to improve both physically and mentally. It takes time. "
Sinner is not happy with Zverev's reaction
Before the match against Nadal, Sinner had to deal with Alexander Zverev in Paris. And won in four sets. The Italian didn't like the aftermath. "I respect Zverev very much because he has more experience than me and is a great player. But I don't respect the statements he made after losing to me at Roland Garros. He often contradicted himself. He said, he had a fever, but he ran more than me in the third and fourth movements. " The revenge for the elimination in Paris was in Cologne, where Zverev won in two sets in the semifinals of the second tournament in the Lanxess Arena.
The fact that Sinner finished the year as number 37 in the world is not surprising. Last year, the South Tyrolean's great talent flashed up in phases on the ATP tour, and he was also able to win the # NextGen Masters in Milan.
Aside from the tennis court, he is also interested in football, Sinner continued in an interview. Years ago he had a roommate who was a passionate AC Milan fan. This passion spilled over onto him. Which is why he follows Zlatan Ibrahimovic's team carefully.