Is Sinner the best Italian tennis player in history?

Fernando Murciego | 9 Feb 2025 | 14.30

Jannik Sinner, the best Italian tennis player in history? Source: Getty

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The rise of Jannik Sinner in the last twelve months has caused a quake at all levels. Globally, the whole circuit seems to have accepted that this red-haired, calm-faced, reserved character has come to dominate his own era. And what do they say in his country in the meantime? Beyond living a memorable moment, the debate about who is the best Italian tennis player of all time is a reality that is knocking on every door seeking an answer. Nicola Pietrangeli, someone who has a VIP seat in this conversation, shared some reflections in a recent chat with adKronos, an interview from which we wanted to highlight a couple of headlines, starting with the champion's performance in this recent Australian Open.

“The final was a walk for Sinner, the feeling is that he strolls on the court,” defined somewhat exaggeratedly. "Already last year I pointed out that, if he continues like this, by 2025 he will have to give some advantage to his opponents. Right now, no one is at his level, but this is not his fault. He's too strong, in a way it was written that the match should be closed in straight sets, and that's what he did. I also predicted such a score, it's normal given how strong he is. I think currently I only see him losing a match if he slept badly or is not well, I can't think of anything he can improve on, he's already the number 1 in the world. I see him having fun on the court, and that's what matters,” evaluated the 91-year-old legend.

Many facts could be put on the table to discuss the best Italian tennis player we've seen, but in the end, the most brilliant will always be the number of Grand Slams won. With one title: Adriano Panatta, Francesca Schiavonne, and Flavia Pennetta. With two titles: Nicola Pietrangeli. With three titles and standing alone at the top: Jannik Sinner. We are talking, of course, solely in the individual territory, as otherwise we would have to quickly bring into the debate Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, who are not lacking in merits. Seeing this ranking, Pietrangeli draws his own conclusions, accepting that his name is no longer the one occupying the top floor of the building.

“It's fair that he has surpassed me, records are always there to be broken,” acknowledges the Roland Garros champion of 1959 and 1960. "However, the accounts are made at the end of the road, so I wish him with all my heart that, from now on, he will do even better. I was scary on the court, but not to all my rivals, as he currently does,” Nicola accurately compares. Surely, revealing one of Jannik's great successes, his danger and accuracy level on all surfaces.

IS HE THE BEST YET?

After listening to Pietrangeli a bit, doubts have only grown among the public, although what most limits us from assuming that Jannik Sinner is the best Italian tennis player in history is his young age. We might be unfair to him, but the test of longevity is an exam he will also have to pass if he wants to earn that accolade unconditionally... or finish this 2025 with two or three more Grand Slams under his belt, which would bring unanimity among the Italian public.

“I don't know if he is the strongest Italian tennis player of all time […] He's only 23, let's see when he turns 30,” Pietrangeli warns, maintaining freshness despite his age. "Now everyone talks about Jannik Sinner, but until two years ago no one knew who he was, no one knew him. When his sports career ends, we'll see if he has been or not the best Italian tennis player of all time, anything can happen,” he concludes.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Es Sinner el mejor tenista italiano de la historia?

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