Jannik Sinner on training with Rafael Nadal: "I've learned a lot from him at every level"
During the two-week quarantine, Jannik Sinner had the honor of having Rafael Nadal available as a daily training partner. In an interview with Metro.co.uk , the Italian now talks about his experiences in the units with the Spaniard and reveals what short-term and long-term goals he has.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Feb 04, 2021, 03:51 pm
Already in autumn of the previous year it was clear that Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal would intensify their training relationship. On the one hand, the trainer of the South Tyrolean, Riccardo Piatti, had repeatedly sought contact with Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal's academy, on the other hand, Nadal himself was full of praise for the youngster after meeting Sinner at the French Open last year.
Accordingly, it was not surprising that the two announced at the beginning of January that they had chosen each other as training partners for the two-week quarantine in Adelaide. A time that Sinner looks back on extremely positively: "Spending this time with Rafa was fantastic, I learned a lot at every level," said the Italian. In particular, the attitude in which the Spaniard goes into every training session, yes into every ball, was something that really impressed Sinner.
Even off the field, Nadal is an extremely sociable contemporary, as Sinner explains: "He is a super nice and humble person and one of the things that I really learned from him was the intensity he puts into every single training session. when he steps onto the pitch, it's like playing a grand slam final. " All in all, he took away a lot from the two weeks at the side of the 20-time Grand Slam champion. "I feel very privileged and honored that he has chosen me to prepare for an event as important as the Australian Open."
"Of course I dream of number one"
Sinner, who reached 36th place in the world at the age of just 19, is still very modestly starting this season: "My goals are never ranking-oriented. Last year my goal was to play 60 matches, but unfortunately I couldn't do this number because of COVID reach ", the Italian told Metro.co.uk. "So my goal is to play about 60 matches again and then we'll see how it goes. In the meantime, I will continue to work with my team to improve my tennis and my body and stay as healthy as possible."
The young man from South Tyrol then named something as a long-term goal that is closely linked to the ranking: "Of course I play because I dream of becoming number 1 in the world and winning a Grand Slam," explains Sinner, just to add immediately: "But the most important thing is that I focus on my development."