Sinner staying grounded amidst recent surge of success
Jannik Sinner finds himself in a second-consecutive Masters 1000 semi-final, this time in Miami. Despite his lofty standards, he knows it is already a good result.
Jannik Sinner, Miami 2024 | © Julien Nouet for Tennis Majors
Jannik Sinner is not used to losing these days. Last fall he won a pair of tournaments (Beijing and Vienna), finished runner-up at the Nitto ATP Finals, and led Italy to the Davis Cup title. Sinner opened this season with triumphs at the Australian Open and ATP 500 in Rotterdam.
So when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semi-finals two weeks ago, it came – even though Alcaraz is No 2 in the world – as a surprise. However, the 22-year-old isn’t letting his ever-increasing standards blind him from reality. Similar to Rafael Nadal, for example, Sinner recognizes that a semi-final at a Masters 1000 event is still a very good result.
“I don’t think so much about [the end of the winning streak],” he said after succumbing to Alcaraz. “Look, I’ve been positive throughout this winning streak — positive even now because I lost in the semis of Indian Wells, which is still a great result.”
Such a mentality helped him get over the loss right away and start focusing on Miami. And it has paid off with more success at a second straight 1000-point tournament, as Sinner booked his spot in the semis with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Tomas Machac on Wednesday afternoon.
Again here in the semifinals, it’s a great result already.
Jannik Sinner
“I just came here knowing in my mind that this is a new challenge for me, a new opportunity to make something happen,” Sinner said following his quarter-final win. “Again here in the semifinals, it’s a great result already. I’m looking forward for the next round, because it’s going to be a really tough match. And that’s it.
“Last year I lost in semis in Indian Wells. I came here and made finals. This year I’m again in the semis here after I lost the semis in Indian Wells. So I’m just trying to get better as a player, honestly. That’s the only thing matters for me.
“Today I felt like that I was playing better than the previous rounds, which for me was that what I was looking for.”
It’s a scary proposition for the rest of the ATP Tour if Sinner continues to improve. And if does, losses will remain few and far between.
