"He does not tremble at anything": Adriano Panatta compares Jannik Sinner to Rafael Nadal after Australian Open triumph

ATP
Tuesday, 30 January 2024 at 00:00
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Adriano Panatta compared his compatriot Jannik Sinner to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after the 2024 Australian Open title. The campaign of the world No. 4 in Melbourne was flawless throughout the tournament, but he faced serious difficulties against Daniil Medvedev, overcoming a two-set deficit.
In a final that will be remembered for not featuring any members of the Big-3 for the first time in 19 years, Sinner and Medvedev delivered a thrilling 5-set spectacle where the Russian took the first two sets. The final score was 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in favor of the young Italian, reminiscent of the 2022 final where Nadal also came back from two sets down against Medvedev to claim the title.
Sinner becomes the second Italian to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, matching the achievement of Adriano Panatta in the 1976 French Open. The veteran Italian commented on Sinner's outstanding level: "He is a complete tennis player, with a mentality that allows him to no longer fear anyone. He is cold, he does not tremble at anything," he added.
"The head: everything comes from the head... From that point of view, Jannik reminds me of Nadal, someone who doesn't give up a 15, who fights on the first ball of the match as if it were the last. And the nice thing is that, at 22 years old, he still has a lot of room for improvement," he said.
“Jannik is an excellent export product of our country, he only transmits values: he is polite, intelligent, respectful of everyone, with a sense of humor, which doesn't hurt. He is a decent person, never over the top," Panatta added.
"Even those who believe that tennis is played with a spoon [are talking about him]! But a tennis champion who brings good messages is good for everyone. His example helps society," he conluded.

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