(Reuters) – Jannik Sinner expressed his joy at the incredible start to the 2024 season he is experiencing, following his victory at the Miami Open on Sunday, marking his third title of the year. The Italian displayed dominant performances against Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals and Grigor Dimitrov in the final, achieving a remarkable record of 22-1 this year and reaching a career-high ranking of world number two.
“This is a special moment,” Sinner exclaimed after defeating Dimitrov 6-3 6-1 in the final, securing his second Masters 1000 title. “You never know if this is the last time or not. So you have to enjoy this for one day, and now a new chapter is coming, clay-court season is coming, so completely different.”
“Let’s see how I will play from now on. But for sure, the hard-court season until now has been very good.”
With an enhanced serve and impeccable shot-making skills, Sinner has been in exceptional form this season, commencing with his victory at the Australian Open in January, which is anticipated to be the first of many Grand Slam titles for him. Despite his single loss of the year to Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, the triumph in South Florida has positioned the Spaniard to now trail behind his rival in the rankings from Monday onwards.
“Being number two, it’s an amazing feeling,” Sinner expressed. “I never thought to come to this point. I come from a very normal family. My dad is still working, as my mom, too. For me sport is one thing and life is different.”
Describing Sinner’s approach, his coach Darren Cahill informed reporters that the 22-year-old is embracing every moment while also staying grounded. “He appreciates every single moment that is happening to him, but he’s also got his feet on the ground knowing it’s just a sport, it’s just a tennis match,” Cahill remarked.
“Whilst he’s professional in everything he does, he enjoys his life. He’s a normal 22-year-old kid. There’s a lot to learn from him, a lot of good to learn from both him and Carlos. I think they’re very similar in many, many ways. That’s why I think tennis is in great hands at the moment with the likes of those two and many other players coming through that are going to carry the torch through a generation we have been so fortunate to sit through the last 20 years.”
Reflecting on his journey, Sinner’s coach emphasized his love for life but highlighted the importance of maintaining perspective amidst success. “It’s important to have these types of sports people coming through,” Cahill concluded.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
