Paolo Bertolucci unabashedly on Jannik Sinner: "Breathtaking"

Former Italian tennis player and Sky commentator Paolo Bertolucci in an interview with Oggi spoke about Jannik Sinner, who is also showing all his strength in Rome. The South Tyrolean star is in the hunt for his sixth consecutive Masters 1000, and he has already equaled Novak Djokovic’s record of consecutive wins.

“The thing that impresses is not just the fact that he wins, but the way he does it. He transmits a very specific feeling to opponents: he takes your breath away, he doesn’t give you a chance to breathe and take over the game. That’s his greatest strength right now.”

“Alcaraz is a phenomenon and remains probably the most explosively talented player on the circuit. You have to look at the numbers and the latest major challenges, though. From Wimbledon to the U.S. Open, via the Finals in Turin and Monte Carlo, Sinner has won three out of four times. That means a lot. Today Sinner has changed more than two years ago: his serve, for example, has become devastating. Before in a good shot, today instead it is a weapon that allows him to command the exchange immediately. But there is more than just that. He has improved so much in observing the opponent and in his ability to command.”

Bertolucci focuses precisely on the serve: “Today Sinner has a serve that allows him to immediately command the exchange. But there is more than just that. He has improved so much in observing the opponent and in his ability to command. We see the results of methodical, daily, almost manic work. Nothing has been left to chance. Every year he adds something to his tennis, and that is the difference between a champion and a very good player.”

According to Bertolucci, Sinner can grow further: “Absolutely. If we look at recent tennis history, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal became virtually unbeatable around the age of thirty. Sinner is 24 today. This means that, theoretically, he still has several years ahead to improve further. And that must worry his opponents. Because today he is already number one in the world and yet he continues to have room for growth. The same passion and hunger, in five or six years he could be even stronger.”