Sinner's coach believes 'too much pressure' and 'too much drama' put on career of Italian so far

Simone Vagnozzi, the coach of Jannik Sinner, spoke about the pressure that surrounds his protege.

At 21 years old, Sinner is considered one of the future leaders on the ATP Tour and a player who can challenge Carlos Alcaraz due to their similar ages.

In 2023, Sinner has shown greater consistency, tallying 37 wins and 11 losses, while solidifying his position in the top-10 as world No. 8 and sixth in the ATP Finals race. However, after his disappointing defeat in the second round of the French Open, he faced increased pressure.

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Vagnozzi, a former tennis player himself and Sinner's current coach, acknowledged the challenges and expectations his player has had to deal with, especially following the setback at the French Open.

"There is a lot of pressure on Jannik, too much I would say. Sometimes he wins, but if he takes a break, I read that there is something wrong, as if the other players never get broken! Criticism is part of the game, but some criticism is free," he said.

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"I have in mind the path we have to take. Let's go on our way. More than feeling bad, sometimes I'm surprised, when fafter Paris I read 'Sinner disaster' or 'Sinner alarm', well, it seemed to me that there was a bit too much drama, honestly," Vagnozzi added.

"I met him when he was no longer a rookie, he was already top 10. The pressures were already there, tennis was already a serious thing for him. I'd say that, apart from the period between Rome and Paris, in which he didn't enjoy himself.

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Kaybetmenin en güzel şekli... 🎾 Jannik Sinner, Roland Garros'a veda ettiği maçı en az Altamaier kadar keyifli hale getirdi.

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"He's more smiling and talkative on the court; he's becoming more … Italian. Before, he had no expressions," claimed Vagnozzi.

The Italian coach emphasized the importance for Sinner, at 21 years old, to manage the expectations and to enjoy the game:

"I who see him every day guarantee. He knows how to have fun. He knows how to be with people. He is respectful towards everyone, and in daily life, he is less serious than he appears in the game," Vagnozzi said.

"It's that everyone expects something from him, and expectations are never easy to manage, especially at 21. The most difficult challenge is not to win the first tournament, but the second, third, fourth … But Jannik has one advantage: he learns quickly," he added.

Sinner will return to the courts at the Canadian Open next week as the 7th seed. In 2022, he reached the round of 16 but was defeated by the Spanish player Pablo Carreño Busta, who went on to become the champion of the tournament by defeating Hubert Hurckacz in the final.

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Jannik Sinner sliding on a grass court. Oddly satisfying. Go ahead, take a peek. You can watch a happy Italian slide into his first Grand Slam semifinal. 🇮🇹

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