Sinner: "This year I have grown more as a person than as a player"

The Italian is already in Shanghai to face the penultimate Masters 1000 of the season. Will he feel the fatigue from the final against Alcaraz a few days ago in Beijing?

Fernando Murciego | 4 Oct 2024 | 10.00
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Jannik Sinner at the Media Day of the Shanghai Masters 1000. Source: Getty
Jannik Sinner at the Media Day of the Shanghai Masters 1000. Source: Getty

Jannik Sinner has been the latest player to attend the press conference at the Media Day of the Shanghai Masters 1000. Although he landed on the same plane as Carlos Alcaraz, commercial commitments had postponed a press conference where questions about the Beijing final, his physical condition, and the doping controversy resurfaced. No problem for a guy who always faces every challenge with composure and a smile. These were the statements of the current world No. 1 before making his debut tomorrow in the main draw against Japanese player Taro Daniel.

Targeting Shanghai

"I am happy to be back here, it's a very pleasant and special tournament. Just now I had my first training session, I feel good, recovered, ready for battle. Yesterday Carlos and I had an event with Nike, we made some appearances, which was very nice to connect with the fans. I'm trying to rest a bit, spent some time at the gym before training, so I hope to be ready for tomorrow."

Growth in 2024

"Perhaps I have grown more as a person than as a player. Obviously, when you are young and in your 20s or early 20s, each year feels like a big step forward. Many things have changed in the last year, so I feel I have made great progress. Also, my mindset isn't changing because of success, nor how I behave with people, so that's very positive. I surround myself with good people, I have my family who know me, support me daily, which means a lot to me. I feel in a good place, hopefully, next year if you ask me the same question I can tell you something similar."

WADA Appeal

"As I said in Beijing, I am a bit surprised, but I knew this could happen. I am cooperating as I did before, I had three hearings, so I am sure everything turned out positively. I would be very surprised if it ended up on the opposite side. It's not a situation where I feel comfortable, I thought everything was over, so it's not easy."

Off-Court Relationship with Alcaraz

"For us, it's quite easy, I feel we are similar as human beings off the court. On the court, we are a bit different, which is normal, that's our nature. Off the court, I like to listen to him, I get the feeling he likes to surround himself with close people, just like me. Our way of handling it is quite normal, we've always done that. He pushes me to be better, which is good, so I will try to improve my game in the coming days and also in the preseason. I would say off the court we are quite similar, yes."

Chinese Tennis Boom

"It's incredible, this country is huge, so it's good to have new promising players. Now we see several names in the top100 and also in the top200, I feel many more will come. It's good, lately I train a lot with Chinese players and they all play really good tennis. When someone plays well, it's just a matter of time. I don't know how far they can go, but it's evident that tennis here in China will grow much more, that's what everyone is waiting for."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner: “Este año he crecido más como persona que como jugador”