Mats Wilander Has ‘Never Seen Anyone’ Playing Like Jannik Sinner As He Explains Why the Italian Is ‘Real Deal’

Jannik Sinner will start his campaign on the grass swing at the Halle Open where he won his first title on the surface last year.

Mats Wilander Has ‘Never Seen Anyone’ Playing Like Jannik Sinner As He Explains Why the Italian Is ‘Real Deal’

Mats Wilander, Jannik Sinner (Image via Sportal.eu, X/The Tennis Letter)

Mats Wilander lauded Jannik Sinner for taking the balls early and hitting them hard during his matches. Wilander’s comments came after Sinner ended the French Open as the runner-up as he lost a five-set thriller to Carlos Alcaraz after five hours and 29 minutes, which is now the longest French Open final in the history of tennis.

The French Open was Sinner’s third tournament of the season as he had to stay on the sidelines for three months due to his doping ban. Sinner defended his Australian Open crown this January and when he returned to the court after serving his ban, he reached the final of the Italian Open but lost the match in straight sets to Alcaraz.

En route to a runner-up finish in Paris, Sinner won his early-round matches without breaking any sweat. Twice he had to toil hard- against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and Alcaraz in the final. Sinner dropped sets only in the final. Wilander, who was on commentary duties during the French Open, shared what he thinks about Sinner’s game style, calling him a “real deal“. He told Tennis365:

We have seen a lot of guys standing three meters behind the baseline on a clay court and smacking it hard, as they have time to line the ball up and get that connection on it.

Alcaraz took an 8-4 head-to-head lead over the Italian. It was also his fifth consecutive win over Sinner as last year, thrice the latter lost to the now five-time Grand Slam champion.

Sinner is not doing that. He is standing up on the baseline, he is hitting the ball so hard and I’ve never seen anyone in my time in tennis who has that combination of hitting the ball so hard and taking it so early.

Mats Wilander added

Sinner was chasing his career’s second title on clay following his victory at the Umag Open. Alcaraz, on the other hand, is now an 11-time champion on clay. Before Paris, he lifted the Monte Carlo Masters, and the Italian Open and also reached the final of the Barcelona Open but lost the match to Holger Rune.

John McEnroe lauds Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz after their French Open triumph

John McEnroe had claimed that Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner would beat prime Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. He then called the match between Sinner and Alcaraz the best French Open final. McEnroe snubbed Sinner and said that the 22-year-old is the only player he would pay a ticket for.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Carlos is the most talented young player I have ever seen hold a racket, Jannik is not far behind. Alcaraz is brighter, Sinner is more consistent. I am struck by the sound of Jannik’s ball: I have never heard anything like it. Carlos is the greatest gift the post-Big Three generation could give us. And he is the only tennis player I would pay a ticket for.

John McEnroe said (H/T: Corriere della Sera)

The next Major is Wimbledon and both the players could meet again in the final as they will be the top two seeds again. At Roland Garros, the two young rivals met for the first time in a Grand Slam final. Sinner has never reached the final at SW19 but Alcaraz will be entering the grass-court Major as the two-time defending champion.

The grass season is underway and Sinner and Alcaraz will be participating at the Halle Open and the Queen’s Club Championships, respectively. Alcaraz will be chasing his fourth grass-court title, while Sinner will be aiming to defend the Halle Open to capture his second title on the surface.

Also read: Andy Murray Lays Down the Fundamentals for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to Achieve the Status of the ‘Big 3’