‘Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner will finish 2021 inside the top-10 of ATP rankings,’ says Gael Monfils

‘Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner will finish 2021 inside the top-10 of ATP rankings,’ says Gael Monfils

Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini

Men’s tennis is very fortunate to have a bunch of youngsters coming through, and much of the players are coming from Italy. Lately, the likes of Matteo Berrettini, Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musseti and Lorenzo Sonego have impressed one and all on the ATP tour, across surfaces.

While Musseti and Sonego are still trying to break into the top-15, Berrettini has already cracked the top-10. Meanwhile, Sinner too has been hovering close to the top-10 for a few months.

Recently, ATP veteran Gael Monfils was asked to pick one player between Berrettini and Sinner, as to who would go on to be the leader of the Italian bunch. In reply, the Frenchman shared his views in a smart manner, by saying that comparing the two would be like matching up legends, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

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“ Maybe we will prefer to face Jannik on hard and Matteo on clay, or better to play against Sinner on grass because he is less strong than Matteo on this surface but honestly it is very difficult to answer you because it is a bit like asking you if you prefer to play Rafa or Roger… it depends where, when, how,” Monfils told Ubitennis.

The 35-year-old concluded his explanation by adding that both Berrettini and Sinner will finish 2021, inside the top-10. Currently, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up is ranked No.7 in the ATP charts, while Sinner is placed 14.  

“However, at the end of the year, your boys will both be in the top 10, I’m sure of that,” Monfils predicted.

Berrettini & Sinner can qualify for WTF in Turin

Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner

Interestingly, the World Tour Finals will be played in the Italian city of Turin and this will be an ideal opportunity for both Berrettini and Sinner to qualify. Although Berrettini has been a part of the WTF before, Sinner has never qualified for the elite event.

Currently, Berrettini placed seventh on the ATP race to Turin. Sinner too is reasonably positioned at the No.11 spot. With two marquee events in Indian Wells and Paris Bercy to go, both Italians will fancy their chances of making the cut.

Also read: ‘Excited to be back on court, I am just thriving out there’: Emma Raducanu