Former rival: “Jannik Sinner can surpass all tennis myths”

Parla Viktor Galovic

Former tennis player Viktor Galovic gave a lengthy interview to the microphones of 'The Arena' in which he talked about Jannik Sinner, the new world number one. The Croatian has faced the South Tyrolean twice: at the Bergamo Challenger and at the U.S. Open qualifiers, both in 2019, and in both challenges it was the Italian who won.

"He was slim. In appearance, però. On the court he was dynamite,” Galovic says. “His timing on the ball always made a difference. It made him different. So did the way he imparted force and glide. It was all in the head, the mental strength that Sinner always had. He knew what to do, he knew where he wanted to go, he thought like a number one".

"A human superhero. He beat me that I was 190 in the world and he was a kid,” continued the former tennis player. I remember that at a change of courts we passed each other, he raised his head, placed a little smile on my face. I saw nothing evil in it, no defiant attitude. In time I reconsidered: he was in control, he also knew theì how far he could go. And he beat me".

On the relationship with Sinner: "Of deep respect. Becauseé in everything he does there’è respect. Especially with the work. Especially with himself. Here, Sinner demands a lot from himself, but also from his staff. He has always worked to get to the next level. That is why he è surrounded himself with people he considers perfect for his journey".

Starting Monday; Sinner will be at the top of the ATP ranking: "A new era of great challenges begins. With him will beà Alcaraz. With him there’è still Djokovic, who will step aside only when he really decides to quit. Rune? We saw him win an international here in Verona. To be at the level of the others he has to be quiet and find his sense of balance".

"I really wouldn’t know what to say to him to avoid ending up in banalityà. But then again, what do you want to say to the 'first in the world'? I think there is little to add. It was said that after Sampras no one would come along who could do better. And, instead, we have seen that history has said otherwise. So: this Sinner could beat all the myths of world tennis. And I certainly would not be surprised" Galovic concludes.