Marion Bartoli believes Jannik Sinner is "a nice kid" but needs to have "a mean spirit" to go far in Grand Slams
ATP
In 2022, Jannik Sinner has been one of the most consistent players on the ATP Tour, but the Italian still only has one title to show for it.
His only triumph came at the 2022 Croatia Open in Umag when he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the event. However, Jannik Sinner won 43 matches and lost only 13 and played quarterfinals at three out of four Grand Slam events. That clearly shows that he's a player that knows how to win, but does he miss something?
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According to 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, yes. The 21-years-old Italian must "have a mean spirit" to succeed at Grand Slam tournaments as she stated in a recent interview.
“He has the game, he hits the ball so hard, he’s beaten Alcaraz already twice, he’s right there in terms of level,” Bartoli told Tennis Majors’ latest Match Points show. “It’s just for him mentally to get a little tougher and a bit less nice on court. You feel he’s a nice kid and you need to have a mean spirit and a fire inside to go for a Grand Slam.
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“I think we will have three, four maybe other names that absolutely will be in quarter-finals moving forward.”
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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mandoist08-11-2026 - Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
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mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
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mandoist05-11-2026 - Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.
mandoist05-11-2026 - Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
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mandoist31-10-2026









