SINNER’S A SAINT
Italian has angelic touch like Federer says ex-agassi coach
JANNIK SINNER’S perfect timing has been likened to that of Roger Federer – ahead of the Italian’s first Grand Slam event final.
The world No.4 is favourite to win the Australian Open crown against Daniil Medvedev today after beating defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Surging Sinner has worked to raise his game since losing to the Serbian superstar in his first Grand Slam event semifinal at Wimbledon last July.
The former Italian junior national giant slalom skiing runner-up has since won his first ATP Masters titles in Beijing and Vienna, the Davis Cup – and beaten Djokovic and Medvedev three times.
Sinner, nicknamed ‘The Fox’, (right) is the current form player on the planet.
His Aussie coach Darren Cahill – who worked with former world No.1s Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Simona Halep – has claimed that Sinner’s pure ball striking has always marked him out as a future superstar.
“The sound of the ball when he hits it, it’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Cahill said. “That was the one thing that I have noticed for years now.
“I said courtside, while working for ESPN, that this kid could be a future No.1. He was that good that early.
“The sound of the ball when he hits it is unique and special. He gets that from his timing and his hand speed.
“He’s worked damn hard to be able to do that. One of the toughest things we have to do as coaches is to stop him practising. Jannik will play non-stop on the court. And when he hits the ball, it just sounds like it’s hit harder than everybody else.
“Agassi hit the ball like that. Rafa Nadal was exactly the same. Federer, when he hit a forehand, you could just hear the sound of it.
“And Novak, when he hits a forehand and backhand, it’s like a thud. It’s not just a normal person striking the ball.
“All of those great players have a different sound when they hit the ball – and Jannik certainly has that as well.”
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam event winner, was stunned by the power, improved fitness and composure of the 22-yearold – as the world No.1 tasted semi-final defeat here.
“He was always smacking the ball really hard,” said Djokovic.
“His serve has improved a lot, his movement overall and the mental part.
“I think he struggled maybe to win the big matches in the big moments, but now it’s coming together for him.”
Redhead Sinner, who has a fan club called the Carota Boys, said: “The end of the year gave me confidence that I could potentially do some good results in Grand Slams. But you still have to show it, no?
“There are people who talk a lot, but you have to show it – you’re going on the court and you have to play.”
Sinner lost his first six meetings with Medvedev but has won their last three.
“I hope to have some advantage,” said world No.3 Medvedev. “Physical advantage I probably don’t have. Tennis advantage, let’s see.” ALFIE HEWETT missed out on a ninth Grand Slam event wheelchair singles title when he lost the final here to Japan’s Tokito Oda.
Last year the British star and world No.1 beat the 17-year-old Japanese player to win his first Australian Open singles title. This time Oda won 6-2 6-4 to take his tally of Major singles titles in the past year to three – all against Hewett in the final.
Hewett said: “Last year was my first time winning the Open title here, so I know how special that is.”