While Jannik Sinner was thrilled to realize the highest spot within the ATP rankings, he’s already centered on the long run.
When requested about celebrating this milestone, Sinner chuckled, saying: “Not really. I’m in the midst of the season, with important tournaments ahead like Wimbledon. It’s a dream come true, and I’ll celebrate with loved ones at some point. But now, new challenges await.”
The 22-year-old Sinner, who changed the injured Novak Djokovic atop the ATP, is the primary participant from Italy to succeed in No. 1 since computerized rankings started in 1973. Sinner would be the top-seeded man on the All England Club, the place play begins July 1.
He figures his new standing, alongside along with his first Grand Slam trophy – from the Australian Open in January – imply opponents view him in another way.
“They don’t have nothing to lose anymore against me, and I have everything to lose, but this is the exciting part. And I like that. … You have to work on having new solutions on the court, and this is going to be hopefully my next step,” Sinner mentioned. “Trying to arrange myself in a manner of being extra unpredictable on courtroom. This is what I wish to study within the subsequent months.”
He is 33-3 in 2024 with three titles.
“In the beginning of the year, we said, ‘We are going hunting, and then we’ll see what we can catch.’ And this now is still the same,” Sinner said. “Every match is a superb alternative to point out one thing new and to point out, additionally, the (will) to win as a lot as we are able to. But you don’t overlook, additionally, the method. If you wish to change into a greater tennis participant, typically it’s important to miss. Sometimes it’s important to lose.”
Two of his three defeats got here in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old from Spain with whom Sinner is growing fairly a rivalry. One loss got here Friday in 5 units within the semifinals on the French Open, which Alcaraz went on to win by beating Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
“I hope he and I keep playing each other for the next 10 years,” Alcaraz said about Sinner. “He makes me a greater participant. He makes me get up within the morning and attempt to enhance.”
Alcaraz’s third main title moved him up one place to No. 2, with Djokovic and Zverev subsequent.
Djokovic was the defending champion in Paris and wanted to return to the ultimate to remain at No. 1 due to a scarcity of play this 12 months and failure to succeed in a title match wherever. He tore the meniscus in his proper knee throughout a victory final week, withdrew earlier than the quarterfinals and had surgical procedure. It’s unclear how lengthy the 24-time main champion will likely be sidelined.
“I hope that Novak comes back as soon as possible. Hopefully he can, somehow, play Wimbledon,” said Sinner, eliminated by Djokovic there each of the last two years, “as a result of it will be a tricky loss for Wimbledon not having him.”
Iga Swiatek’s third consecutive championship at Roland Garros – her fourth in 5 years in Paris and fifth main total – elevated what already was a big lead because the WTA’s No. 1.
Coco Gauff climbed to a career-best No. 2, making the 20-year-old from Florida the primary American to be that top within the rankings since Serena Williams in May 2017. Gauff, final 12 months’s U.S. Open champion, reached the French Open singles semifinals earlier than dropping to Swiatek and received her first Slam doubles title, teaming with Katerina Siniakova.
Aryna Sabalenka swapped locations with Gauff and is No. 3, adopted by 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina.
Jasmine Paolini, a 28-year-old Italian who misplaced to Swiatek on Saturday in her first main last, jumped to No. 7, her first time within the high 10. Paolini was No. 15 earlier than the French Open.
Paolini and Sinner gave Italy a semifinalist in each girls’s and males’s singles throughout the identical Grand Slam match for the primary time.
Source: www.dailysabah.com