“They respect me more,” Jannik Sinner loses all his cards after Australian Open victory as top-seeded rivals like Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Medvedev have nothing to lose against him

The World No. 4 admits he will be the target for many of his rivals given he is now a Grand Slam singles champion.

“They respect me more,” Jannik Sinner loses all his cards after Australian Open victory as top-seeded rivals like Djokovic, Alcaraz, and Medvedev have nothing to lose against him

Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic (via IMAGO)

World No. 4 Jannik Sinner continues to enjoy attention following his massive win at the 2024 Australian Open. The Italian won his maiden Grand Slam singles title by defeating Daniil Medvedev in the finals at Melbourne Park. 

With a remarkable comeback in the finals, the Italian is soaring with confidence. He has yet to return to the tour since then, and he has been quite busy with the celebrations. He was invited to a meeting by Italy’s Prime Minister and President to congratulate his historic achievement. 

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As it happened with his rival Carlos Alcaraz after he won the 2022 US Open, Sinner is prepared to be the number one target for many of his rivals. While World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is still around and dominating the tour, the Italian admits even the Serb would want revenge for his semi-final defeat. 

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Jannik admitted that his winning AO has his game plan exposed. Although he managed to make the comeback, it’s a rare occasion when a player can come from two sets down in a Major final. With his game now fully out in the open, the Italian wunderkind talked about how things will now change. 

They respect me more, but at the same time they know me more and they know my weaknesses more. I have to be prepared for it and that's why I train. Let's see how I react to this situation now that everyone knows me.
Said Sinner as per Marca. 
The majority of tennis players now are not going to have anything to lose against me and it is something different from the past because they will play with less pressure.
Added the Italian.

Jannik Sinner returns to the Tour at the Rotterdam Open

Ever since his win in Melbourne, Sinner has yet to play a competitive match. The wait for fans will, however, end this week as the Grand Slam champ will compete at the 2024 Rotterdam Open. 

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Jannik Sinner (Image via Imago)

With Djokovic and Medvedev not playing and Alcaraz busy in South America, Sinner is the top seed for the event.

He starts his campaign against Botic van de Zandschulp. It will be a tricky clash for the Italian, as Botic has proven his mettle various times on the Tour and will certainly have the crowd support in his favor. However, with the confidence of winning the title Down Under, Sinner will surely not back down. 

The second round could be even more interesting for the Italian, as he will take on the winner from the match between Denis Shapovalov and Gael Monfils, provided he defeats Zandschulp. In addition, Alexander Bublik and Alex de Minaur could also be his potential opponents in the later rounds, making it an event to look forward to. 

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