Improving Jannik Sinner has his sights set on serving up more success next season

MILAN (AP) — Jannik Sinner is gearing up to create the perfect recipe for success in the upcoming season.

Following his impressive victory over third-ranked Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the ATP Finals on Saturday, Sinner used a cooking analogy to describe his progress this year. He likened it to cooking “pasta pomodoro” (pasta with tomato sauce).

Reflecting on his improvement, Sinner said, “Everything is part of a learning curve. When each of us makes pasta pomodoro for the first time you say ‘it’s missing salt,’ and you add more salt, then you say ‘it’s missing fresh tomatoes’ and you put them in, then you add in basil. So you add ingredients to always improve more. But you also have to be careful you don’t add too much otherwise the dish doesn’t become better. You need to find the right balance. My dish is also not perfect yet, I can improve.”

Unfortunately, Sinner didn’t have the perfect ingredients to defeat Novak Djokovic in the finals. Djokovic won 6-3, 6-3, claiming a record seventh victory at the season-ending tournament.

Despite the defeat, Sinner’s performance at the ATP Finals was remarkable. It included his first-ever victory over Djokovic and a climb in the rankings from No. 15 to No. 4, marking the highest rank for an Italian man since Adriano Panatta nearly 50 years ago.

Sinner’s impressive season also saw him breaking Panatta’s record for the most victories over top-five players among Italian men. Additionally, his ability to maintain mental strength and secure important victories in prestigious tournaments has marked significant progress.

With 61 wins and only 15 losses, Sinner’s performance this season speaks volumes about his potential. His journey drew substantial attention, earning him passionate support as the poster boy and fervent backing from an enthusiastic crowd in Turin.

The Italian media has warmly embraced Sinner despite previous criticism. His former coach, Riccardo Piatti, praised his remarkable performance and highlighted his potential for future success and the pride he brings to Italian sports.

Looking ahead, Sinner has his sights set on achieving further milestones. Despite reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and showing promise in Grand Slam tournaments, Sinner’s aspirations exceed the boundaries of current achievements.

With his talent, dedication, and a resolute mindset, Sinner has garnered praise from prominent figures in tennis, including Djokovic, who expressed confidence in Sinner’s potential to become a future Grand Slam champion and world No. 1.

AP Tennis:
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