"I remember the first time I entered the Top 100, the year I won the Next Gen Finals": Jannik Sinner not resting on his laurels after smashing own expectations
ATP
Jannik Sinner has opened his account at the Rome Open seeing off Sebastian Ofner to reach the Last 32 on home soil. He defeated the Austrian 6-3, 6-4.
But despite now being the World No.1 and one of two leading lights who are a shoe-in for most majors in himself and Carlos Alcaraz. Despite that though, Sinner doesn't rest on his laurels and said that he still remembers his debut and so everything now compared to there is wildly different.
“It’s impossible to say. I’ve come a long way and I didn’t expect these kinds of results. I’m still realistic. I remember the first time I entered the Top 100, the year I won the Next Gen Finals, and the year I made my debut in Rome when I beat Steve Johnson.
"Everything that comes now is very positive, but you experience it differently when you’re young. You have a lot of doubts at that age. After everything I’ve done and what I continue to do, I just want to see what my maximum potential is. I’m not talking about victories or tournaments — I just want to finish knowing I gave everything I had. Then we’ll see what the rest brings.”
Returning home to Carbonara
He also spoke about what he likes when he is back at home but can't hugely enjoy it due to the fact that he goes back and forth between two players. He is known for sticking to a few places hence why he didn't get stung with the Shrimp taco virus of Madrid as he doesn't eat on site either.
“Carbonara, yes. It’s difficult to say because I mostly just go between the courts and the hotel. But in Italy, many things have changed. People know there’s a tennis tournament on, they know there are many tennis players here. I prefer to stay at the hotel, but what always strikes me is the affection people give me during practice sessions and matches.
Sinner moves on.
"It’s beautiful to see so many children and young people here. They are our future, and it’s great that they already have this passion for tennis. We’re a really big group now with so many Italian players, and it’s nice to see the younger generation already so passionate about the sport.”
But despite being at the top of the sport, Sinner still finds room to improve and get better especially on a surface that even he hasn't fully mastered yet. “Perfection doesn’t exist. On clay it’s a little more difficult because you have to serve differently compared to other surfaces. There are always things you can improve and adapt.”
But he also spoke about dealing with pressure and how he manages being at the top of the game and while he might not speak about it, he still feels it. “If you don’t feel pressure, it means you don’t care. The important thing is knowing how to manage it. If you can’t manage pressure, then it’s better not to talk about it too much. You have to be aware that there are things you know how to do well.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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