Peak Sinner Can Be No. 1 for 10 Years

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, March 28, 2024

Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev sees Jannik Sinner as the sport’s future gold normal.

Requested after his Miami Open quarterfinal win if he thinks Sinner is able to rise to No. 1 this 12 months, Zverev joked “I believe he sucks.”

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On a critical not, Zverev mentioned Sinner’s efficiency this season places him on tempo to be a dominant future world No. 1.

Pointing to the 22-year-old Italian’s excellent 20-1 begin to the season, Zverev mentioned if Sinner sustains this degree, he might be No. 1 on the planet “for the following 10 years.”

“Look, he gained the Australian Open, gained Rotterdam, and he is what, [20-1] thus far this 12 months?” Zverev advised the media in Miami. “I believe when you’ve got these type of statistics, it is very logical that you simply’re on the proper path and also you’re on the way in which to be there, proper?

“Do I believe that he will be as unbeatable as he’s thus far this 12 months? I do not know. As a result of proper now he is misplaced one match.

“It is unbelievable. It is like a statistic like Djokovic began in his greatest years. Federer began like this in his greatest years. Rafa began like this I believe as soon as in his profession.”

Former US Open finalist Zverev mentioned he is finding out Sinner in an effort to cease the Australian Open champion’s ascent to the highest spot.

“If he retains it like that, then he isn’t solely going to be No. 1 on the planet, he will be No. 1 on the planet for the following 10 years,” Zverev mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s as much as him and it is also as much as me, as much as Carlos, as much as Daniil, as much as Novak as effectively to cease him from doing that.

“In fact he is any person that we now in all probability look out for, you understand, one in all two or three gamers that we glance out for probably the most. We research him, we attempt to perceive his recreation, we attempt to perceive what could make him really feel uncomfortable. And we’ll see if we will use it.”

Photograph credit score: Frey/TPN/Getty