Jannik Sinner to train with Rafael Nadal during quarantine in Melbourne ahead of the 2021 Australian Open


Jannik Sinner to train with Rafael Nadal during quarantine in Melbourne ahead of the 2021 Australian Open
Jannik Sinner

The 2021 Australian Open is underway by February 8th, as announced by Tennis Australia in agreement with the Victorian government after endless speculations around the year-opening Slam in the media.

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It is set to be a historic moment as for the first time in 100 years, the Australian Open is scheduled for the month of February and not January.

According to its pre-tournament training protocol, one player can train with another fixed player in the two-week quarantine period. After 14 days, the pair of two can add one or a maximum of two players in the group.

This arrangement has turned out to massively benefit young Italian tennis sensation, Jannik Sinner who is set to train with Rafael Nadal after the World No.2 agreed to be Sinner’s partner in training.

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Rafa Nadal will rub off his massive experience onto youngster Sinner as they will train together at Melbourne Park

Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal

The 2020 ATP Sofia winner, Jannik Sinner had never thought in his wildest dreams for this learning opportunity to come his way. The Italian coach Riccardo Piatti thinks this as an opportunity to learn from the owner of 20 Grand Slams.

Adhering to the training protocols, former World No.3 Stan Wawrinka and Argentine Diego Schwartzman are said to join the group later on.

“Exactly. Better. In the first week we agree with Carlos (Moya) and Rafa. In the second week, when each pair of players can join another, we made an agreement with Wawrinka and Schwartzman. I believe that for Sinner being able to see (and experience in his turn) the preparation of a Grand Slam made by someone who has won 20, is a fundamental experience,” Piatti explained.

Sinner and Nadal met for the first time in the quarter-finals of the Roland Garros 2020, where the ‘King of Clay’ Nadal ended the youngster’s impressive run before claiming the title for an astonishing 13th time in his splendid career.

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The Spaniard is known to train with full intensity where he challenges his own limits in order to improve significantly. It is a tremendous way for the youngest ATP title winner of the decade to train for a major tournament alongside one of the greatest in the sport.

Before entering the Melbourne Slam, Sinner is set to warm his arms at two ATP 250 events in Turkey and Melbourne. Rafa on the other hand is already a top contender even at 34 years of age. Having won the Major only once in 2009, Nadal will be competing with a new-born fury to claim what remains seemingly elusive in his career.

Also Read: Jannik Sinner wishes to play against Roger Federer first over Novak Djokovic