"There is a young man with an old soul": Boris Becker responds as Jannik Sinner continues to dismiss rankings chase for continued success"
ATPSunday, 10 March 2024 at 09:00
Former world number one Boris Becker believes that comments
of Italy’s young tennis star Jannik Sinner about not having an interest in a race
to become the world number two shows that he is an ‘old soul’
The 22-year-old was recently
quoted in a report where he stated that rankings remain secondary for him as he
is looking to become more consistent on the court.
“Number 2? I always say that the
ranking is a secondary thing,” he said. “First, to get there I have to have a
very continuous season, which does not mean winning every tournament, but being
ready to compete.
“In Rotterdam, we knew there was
a chance to become number 3. Here, it's the same thing to become number 2, but
it doesn't just depend on me.”
Becker, in response to that,
stated that the comment shows that Sinner is a ‘young man with an old soul’. "There
is a young man with an old soul," he wrote.
Sinner is often
regarded as one of the most highly-rated players in the men’s singles category
alongside Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. He won his maiden Grand Slam earlier this
year after beating the current world number three Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in
the final with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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