"Sinner's serve is now among the best in history"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 19 Jul 2026 | 14.01

Jannik Sinner shows improvement with his serve. Photo: gettyimages.

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Jannik Sinner continues to receive praise after winning his second title at Wimbledon and confirming his absolute dominance of the men's circuit. The world number 1 seems a step above the rest of his rivals, a feeling that has led one of the greatest legends of Italian tennis, Adriano Panatta, to reflect on the present and future of the Italian player.

In a column published in the Corriere della Sera, the champion of Roland Garros 1976 considers that Jannik Sinner is not only currently the best player on the planet but is still far from reaching his peak. Panatta analyzes the virtues that explain the Italian's dominance, from the spectacular evolution of his serve to an improvement capacity he describes as "scandalous." He also expresses a shared desire felt by a large part of the tennis world: for Carlos Alcaraz to return soon to restore the great rivalry both players had built.

Panatta misses Alcaraz

Panatta began his reflection by lamenting that Carlos Alcaraz's injury has temporarily disrupted the great duel that had marked the recent times on the circuit.

"I want to see Carlitos back soon. I am sincerely convinced that only when Sinner on one side and Alcaraz on the other coincide again, provided his injury is not too serious, will tennis once more offer a truly open confrontation, the duel we all want to see."

The former Italian tennis player believes that sports need constant rivalries to maintain their appeal. "Sports, not just tennis, need intense matchups to be even more attractive." While that rivalry remains paused, Panatta believes the landscape is clear. "By winning his second Wimbledon, Sinner has shown that he is too strong for everyone."

Adriano Panatta sees Sinner greatly superior to the others

The recent Wimbledon final against Alexander Zverev further reinforced that feeling. The German arrived with momentum after winning Roland Garros and becoming the world number 2, but once again fell short of defeating the Italian. Panatta acknowledged the high level displayed by Zverev.

"He deserves congratulations because he approached the match in the best possible way. It's evident that the Paris title gave him back a confidence that many unexpected defeats had taken away. He is a magnificent player, with very solid shots and a serve that always makes its presence felt."

However, he considers that even the best version of the German player is still insufficient against the current leader of the ranking. "Sinner remains far above him and is a better player. The match was even until 6-6 in the second set. From there, the Italian steamroller encountered no obstacles."

Additionally, he recalled a fact that perfectly illustrates this superiority: Sinner's victory at Wimbledon marked the tenth consecutive win of Sinner over Zverev, a psychological and sporting difference that is becoming increasingly overwhelming.

Italian tennis legend believes Sinner's serve is already historic

For Panatta, one of the key factors in Sinner's growth in recent months lies in a very specific aspect of his game: the serve. The Italian finds it extraordinary that a player already well-established on the circuit has been able to transform such a complex stroke.

"Jannik's serve has grown enormously in a few months. It's not easy to change the serve for young players; just imagine doing it with a professional already well settled in the circuit. But Sinner has achieved it thanks to a capacity for work and a desire to improve that are unparalleled."

His conclusion is even more striking. "Today his serve is at the level of the best servers in history. Not only because the statistics say so, but because he knows how to find the ace exactly when he needs it."

Panatta also highlighted the outstanding adaptation of the world number one to grass, a surface that historically did not seem the most favorable for his characteristics.

"The two Wimbledon titles are a gift from his youth. The qualities of the skier he used to be come out when he seeks support on the outside leg. There, Jannik performs real miracles and manages to return almost impossible balls, turning lost games into victories."

Panatta believes Sinner has a great room for improvement

Perhaps the most revealing reflection from Panatta came when he analyzed the future of the Italian player. Despite dominating the circuit and accumulating Grand Slam titles, he believes Sinner still has immense progress ahead. "His margins for improvement are almost scandalous. It seems he has no limits."

Far from thinking that the number one has already reached his best version, Panatta believes that Sinner's attitude precisely explains why he will continue to evolve.

"He is 24 years old and will soon turn 25. The continuous attention he pays to his own growth can only honor him. I don't know how far he will go, but I do know that over the next few months, we will find a better Sinner every time."

It is a particularly significant reflection coming from someone who understands perfectly how difficult it is to progress when already at the pinnacle of world tennis. While many players tend to stabilize their performance upon reaching the elite, Panatta sees in Sinner a constant ambition to continue perfecting every aspect of his game.

Wimbledon as a turning point

Finally, Panatta also believes that success in London can have a huge emotional impact after a challenging period for the Italian player.

"After everything that happened in Paris, from that sudden block against the younger Cerúndolo, the extensive medical tests at the San Raffaele hospital, and all the doubts he surely had, this victory will allow him to erase at least a part of all that." And he concluded by recalling the special value that has always been attached to lifting the most prestigious trophy in tennis. "A victory at Wimbledon always has something magical. And this time was no exception."

The words of Adriano Panatta reflect an increasingly widespread feeling on the circuit: Jannik Sinner already dominates the present of men's tennis, but what is truly unsettling for his opponents is that, according to those who understand this sport best, he has not yet shown his full potential.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "El saque de Sinner ya está entre los mejores de toda la historia"

Jannik Sinner