Simone Vagnozzi Reveals Jannik Sinner’s Most Demanding Opponent on Tour

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have faced each other thirteen times on tour with the latter leading 8-5 in their head-to-head record.

Simone Vagnozzi Reveals Jannik Sinner’s Most Demanding Opponent on Tour

Jannik Sinner and Simone Vagnozzi (via Instagram/Simone Vagnozzi)

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Jannik Sinner has been the best player for the past one and a half years. The Italian has spent 59 consecutive weeks as the World No.1 and has continued to win big titles. However, one of his coaches, Simone Vagnozzi has revealed that Carlos Alcaraz is the only player the 23-year-old prepares heavily for before they meet on the court.

Sinner and Alcaraz have faced each other thirteen times on the court, with the latter leading 8-5 in their head-to-head record. They last faced each other at the Wimbledon Championships final, where Sinner came from a set down to beat the Spaniard and snap his 24-match winning streak to claim his first grass-court Grand Slam.

That was Sinner’s fourth Grand Slam in two years. He has been very ambitious since the start of the 2024 season, claiming his maiden major title at the Australian Open after beating Daniil Medvedev. He then went on to win the US Open before defending the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.

On the other hand, Alcaraz has won five Slams but was last a World No.1 in the men’s circuit in 2023. He claimed his fifth major title at the French Open, where he came from two sets down to beat Sinner in the final after five hours and 29 minutes. He currently tops the chart for the highest number of titles this season with five.

During an interview with ATP, Simone Vagnozzi was asked who he thinks is the most difficult opponent for Sinner. The Italian coach revealed that Alcaraz is the player and that the World No.1 has prepared adequately to deal with the Spaniard on the court:

Carlos is such a special player that he creates problems for you that other players cannot. Therefore, it’s essential to prepare as well as possible to resolve the conundrums he sets you. The more you practise those situations in practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel in the match. As with everything, I think equilibrium is the real quality a player must have.

Sinner and Alcaraz have withdrawn from the Canadian Open after their Wimbledon final run early this month. The pair are expected to feature at the Cincinnati Open, which will be a warm-up tournament ahead of the US Open. Sinner is the defending champion of the two tournaments.

Jannik Sinner’s coach opens up about the reason behind his ascension to the top of the ATP

Jannik Sinner has been a more consistent player on the court since the 2024 season. Previously, he was known for reaching the quarter-finals or semi-finals of big tournaments. Last year, he claimed seven titles, including two Grand Slams. This season, he has already won two Grand Slams.

Jannik Sinner (3)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

During the aforementioned interview, Simone Vagnozzi revealed that the reason behind Sinner’s ascension to the top of men’s tennis was a change in his goals going into every tournament. He added that the Italian star now enters each event to win it:

It’s a wonderful position, something we’ve been seeking for the last three and half years. Getting to No. 1 means going to every tournament with the intention of winning it. As we always say in our team, the important thing is trying to work and prepare as well as possible to have the chance to compete and win titles as much as possible. The important thing for us is to have the peace of mind that we have done things as well as possible.

Sinner has won two titles this season in just five tournaments featured. Also, out of the five events, he has reached the final of four of them. It is worth noting that he would have competed in more tournaments if he hadn’t served a three-month suspension for doping.

Also Read: Boris Becker Offers Key Advice to Alexander Zverev on Protecting His Mental Game