Jannik Sinner reveals an astonishing similarity between himself and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open

Jannik Sinner was one of many ATP tour level players who paid a tribute to Rafael Nadal on his retirement last year.

Jannik Sinner reveals an astonishing similarity between himself and Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open

Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal (via X)

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner made a statement with his dominant 2024 season. The Italian is now aiming to chase the achievements of the Big 3 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic) in 2025 and beyond.

Sinner recently pointed out a similarity he shares with Nadal. Currently in Melbourne to defend his Australian Open title, Sinner hopes this similarity goes beyond just one aspect.

YouTube video

I took the same hotel room as last year. When you sit in the car, several hours pass before the match starts, you can think about many things. Rafael Nadal had the same driver for 20 years. He was a lucky driver (smiles). It’s good to be back here. It’s very nice to see all the names of the champions.

Jannik Sinner in an interview to Ubitennis

The Italian aspires to join Nadal in the elite group of players who have won multiple Australian Open titles. Nadal’s most recent Australian Open victory came in 2022, while Sinner won his first Grand Slam title at the same tournament last year.

Interestingly, both Nadal and Sinner achieved their wins in dramatic fashion. They each came back from two sets down against Daniil Medvedev to claim the trophy at Melbourne Park.

Jannik Sinner extends lead as the World No.1 before the Australian Open

Jannik Sinner remains firmly at the top of the ATP Rankings as the tennis world gears up for the 2025 Australian Open. The 23-year-old Italian has now spent 31 weeks as World No. 1. Despite skipping warm-up tournaments, his position remains unchallenged. Sinner currently holds 11,830 points, giving him a massive 4,195-point lead over his nearest rival.

Jannik Sinner

World No. 2 Alexander Zverev faced a setback due to an injury. The German was unable to participate in the 2025 United Cup, where he earned significant points last year. Germany’s early exit caused Zverev to lose 280 points, bringing his total to 7,635.

Carlos Alcaraz, ranked third with 7,010 points, has maintained his position. Alcaraz also decided to skip warm-up events and focus on preparing for the Australian Open. This approach helped him narrow the gap with Zverev despite not playing any matches.

Sinner’s dominance continues to overshadow the competition as he starts the new season. With such a commanding lead, he remains the favorite heading into the year’s first Grand Slam.