Sinner wasn’t built in a day: “It all stems from work that was done much further back, from efforts I made much earlier”

Jannik Sinner became world No 1 in 2024 and won two Grand Slam titles.

December 21, 2024

Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither was Jannik Sinner. Having become a solid top 10 player in 2023, the Italian transformed himself into the boss of world tennis in 2024, winning two Grand Slam titles, the ATP Finals, and becoming the world No 1. A logical progression for a player, who possesses tremendous talent but still has enormous room for improvement.

So how did Jannik Sinner become this consistent monster in 2024, with a record of 73 wins to just six losses? Quite simply, hard work. In an interview with Tennis Magazine, the latest issue of which was published on December 20, 2024, the Italian talked about his superb 2024 and his evolution—the fruits of labour that began a long time ago.

“The results don’t come directly,” Sinner said (translated). “I’ve worked hard over the last few years to find a way to be effective in the important moments. I thought I was a great player when I got into the 10, but I didn’t feel capable of beating the best in the world. So I had to add something to my game.

“Little by little, we managed to do just that. When Simone Vagnozzi joined my team, I started to vary my game more, and even today I do a lot of variations in training. In matches, sometimes I do it well, sometimes not so well. But in my head, I know it’s the right way. We’ve been working for a year and a half to be able to use these strokes in matches. And it’s precisely since mid-2023 that I’ve been putting everything in place; the serve, in particular, has become a more important weapon, especially in important moments.”

my journey continues to evolve positively
Jannik Sinner

Further in his interview, Sinner explained that 2023 played a major role in shaping his career. The 23-year-old finally managed to beat Daniil Medvedev, who had won their first six duels before the final of the 2023 China Open. A few months later in 2024, the Italian beat Medvedev again in the final of the Australian Open to claim his first Grand Slam title.

“Medvedev is an opponent who made me grow as a player,’ said Sinner. “I could never beat him. Little by little, I worked to find a solution and I managed it in Beijing. Then I won the tournament, which gave me confidence. I won in Vienna, I played well in the ATP Finals and we won the Davis Cup. But it all stems from work that was done much further back, from efforts I made much earlier. Everything I’ve managed to do in 2024 is the result of what I did last year.”

“It was important to finish the season with a positive record against the best players. Three years ago, I was consistent, making eighths, quarters, eighths, quarters. The following year, I alternated between the quarters and the semi-finals. Last year, I reached the semi-finals and the final. I always came close, and this year I’ve played a lot of decisive rounds, semi-finals and finals in the biggest tournaments. For now, my journey continues to evolve positively.”