"I don’t play for records—I play for myself, for my team" - Jannik Sinner restricts comparisons to other tennis players while teasing Rome return

The record books have been re-written with Jannik Sinner's most recent Masters 1000 triumph. He played at an extraordinary level to defeat an underwhelming Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-1 to win a first title at Caja Magica and continue to cement his name as a future great in the sport.

Right now, it seems that there is no one able to compete with Sinner, let alone defeat it. A journalist questioned whether he believes that he could go the rest of the season without losing in his press conference. He was quick to shut it down. "No, it’s not possible. It’s unnecessary to talk about it."

In his press conference, Zverev lavishly praised Sinner. The German put him levels above anyone else, including himself, while admitting that he was by far the best player on the ATP Tour.

Sinner was in no mood to compare." It depends on the players," he said. "First-round matches are always very tough, and then you try to raise your level. Today was a really good performance from my side—very solid, serving well. But I don’t compare myself with other players. I try to be the best version of myself, and that’s it. Day by day, it’s always different."

With this fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title, he is now above the greats. No one has achieved this feat until now. He continues to improve his status as a legend. Comparisons with the 'Big Three' and other icons of the sport have been coming a lot more regularly for him in recent times.

While the record meant a lot, that was not what he was stepping out onto the court to complete. "It means a lot. But as I always say, I cannot compare myself with Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer], or Novak [Djokovic]. What they did is incredible.

"I don’t play for records—I play for myself, for my team, and for my family. They know what’s behind all of this. My family has never changed how they treat me—they are simple parents, and I feel very safe with them. We never talk about tennis when I’m at home. It’s just parents and me. There is a lot of discipline and sacrifice behind these results. I like the journey. I like putting myself in the best position to be the best version of myself. Again, I don’t play for records. What others have done—and what Novak Djokovic is still doing—is incredible. I cannot compare myself with them."

While the four-time Grand Slam champion has been utterly supreme in this time frame, there have been challenging obstacles along the way. When asked for what has been his toughest match, he instantly indicated the Australian Open semi-final defeat to Djokovic in five-sets.

"Things can change quickly," he said. "There are many great players, and they try to beat you every day. Most of the time, the pressure is on me. Novak beat me in Australia playing incredible tennis. I cannot predict the future—I don’t know how I will feel physically or mentally at the biggest tournaments."

Sinner has showed his undeniable skills of adapting from every scenery. In this Masters 1000 streak he has enjoyed, for example, the 24-year-old has gone from indoor hardcourt to outdoor hardcourt to clay. Even the surfaces at Monte-Carlo and Madrid are contrasting.

He delved into more detail. "Every match is tough—there is no easy one. Even today, if I lose concentration for a moment, everything can change," he commented. "There are always different conditions: Paris is indoors, Indian Wells is very bouncy, Miami is flat, Monte Carlo is slower, Madrid is at high altitude. It’s tough to compare matches, so I don’t want to pick just a couple."

It is now 23 wins in a row for Sinner, and 28 at Masters 1000 level. He continued to speak humbly about his form and talent as a tennis player, and highlighted Jakub Mensik as a possible challenger for the future. The former Miami Open champion was the last player to defeat Sinner in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.

"I don’t like to answer these kinds of questions—you have to be careful," Sinner stated. "There are great players, both known and unknown. Sometimes someone new appears—like Jakub Menšík, for example—who people didn’t expect, and suddenly he’s competing at a high level. It can happen at any time. My job is to keep improving. Results are a consequence of the work you put in. If you drop your level even a little, others will catch up very quickly. So I’m happy to keep working."

In a fitting turn of events, it is Mother's Day in Spain. This prompted a reporter to ask Sinner about his mum. He opened up on the sacrifices made in his childhood. "I’m lucky, because when I was 13 I made the choice to leave home and go to a training centre," he reminisced.

"That’s very difficult for parents—especially for a mother. It was tough for me, but even tougher for them, because they want to see their child growing up. I missed some time with my parents, and I would like to catch up as much as I can."

He referenced his wider family and friends. "My grandparents—my mum’s parents—are still alive, so I understand how important family time is. I would like to spend more time with my family, my brother, and my friends."

Sinner referenced his great rival, Alcaraz, and how he travels regularly with his family, still living at home with them. "It’s great to see Carlos, for example, travelling with his family—I think he’s doing very well. When someone is no longer there, you regret it. My mum is definitely a role model. I’m very happy to have my mum and my dad—they are a true inspiration. I try to be like them, because then I know I’m a good person."

The Rome Open is always a special occasion for Sinner. His form in the past has not been the best, however. Before last year, he had just one quarterfinal on home soil to show. In his return from a lengthy doping ban, he conquered all to reach the final before being kept at bay by Alcaraz in a thrilling contest.

With the seven-time Grand Slam champion sidelined for the tournament, it will be another event that Sinner will be the firm favourite to win. There seems to be no physical concerns as he well and truly confirms his participation in his home Masters 1000 event.

"Playing at home is always very special," he admitted. At the same time, now I just want to enjoy this—I don’t want to think about future plans. Physically I’m good, so there’s no reason not to play in Rome, of course. But it has been a very long stretch, starting from Indian Wells. I’m obviously very happy, but now it’s also good to recover, especially mentally. We’ve done a lot and there has been a lot of pressure, so let’s see."

He recounted how special it was to return there last year after a really tricky spell, along with emphasising the need to rest both physically and mentally. "I’m very happy to go back to Rome. It’s a very special tournament. Last year I came back there after a difficult period, and I received a lot of emotional support. Winning tournaments is never easy—they’re all very difficult. Right now, I’m just thinking about resting mentally for a couple of days, because I’ve given so much energy during this tournament."