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For some, Jannik Sinner’s composed demeanor and reserved playing style might not seem particularly captivating. Yet, this very balance has made him the most significant player in tennis this year.
Sinner has transformed into a serial winner who often claims victory in his opponents’ minds before they even step onto the court. His rise suggests he could remain a fixture at the pinnacle of the sport for years. After losing to him in their ATP Finals semifinal, Casper Ruud said:
“Jannik Sinner hits a faster ball than Novak Djokovic. He doesn’t let you breathe. With Novak you can play rallies. Not going to say easier to play Novak because he’s the best in the history. At least with Novak you can play more rallies and not be terrified of Novak ripping, like a bomb down the line or cross-court or these things."
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Ruud’s perspective reflects his difficulties. On this surface and under these conditions, he lacked the tools to even partially offset Sinner’s strengths. For Ruud, the pace of the match must have felt relentless. Nevertheless, there’s truth in his observations.
Jannik Sinner’s strategy centers around standing near the baseline and taking the ball early, smothering his opponents by giving them minimal reaction time. While this tactic mirrors Novak Djokovic in some respects, Sinner surpasses the Serbian in aggression. From virtually any position, he can fire a winner or force an error. Tennis hasn’t seen a player like him before.
Despite stylistic differences, both Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are revolutionizing the game. Consistency from the baseline has become a must-have skill for elite players, but Sinner and Alcaraz elevate this with a level of pace previously unseen—even in the games of Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
While Roger Federer leaned on an attacking style, his success was often tied to effortless timing and power, rather than raw velocity. Casper Ruud’s troubles in the ATP Finals semifinals were compounded by an off day with his serve. The Norwegian ended up winning just three games—marking the most one-sided defeat for any of Sinner’s opponents at this year’s ATP Finals.
Dominance in the numbers
In the group stage, Alex de Minaur managed to claim seven games, Taylor Fritz eight, and Daniil Medvedev another seven. Even Fritz’s rematch in the final yielded no better result, with the American taking eight games again. None of Jannik Sinner’s opponents won more than four games in a single set, forced a tiebreak, or came close to stealing a set from him.
Sinner stormed through the tournament with such ease that it’s fair to say he barely broke a sweat. While this dominance partly highlights the disparity in the competition, it’s a testament to his stature as a complete player and serial champion.
On the other hand, other top players faced their challenges. Alexander Zverev, for instance, lost to Fritz for the third straight time in the semifinals. Once again, Zverev’s inability to summon courage and decisiveness in the final set tiebreak cost him dearly. Now nearing 28, questions linger about whether he can shake off this recurring mental block.
Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, delivered an underwhelming ATP Finals performance, while Novak Djokovic skipped the event altogether. Officially, his withdrawal was due to injury, though it seemed equally a matter of conserving energy for the upcoming season. In Djokovic’s absence, Jannik Sinner faced Taylor Fritz in a final that unfolded predictably, with the Italian comfortably dictating the play.
Historic dominance
Taylor Fritz managed a stronger performance against Jannik Sinner than Casper Ruud because his serve gave him a fighting chance, but for Sinner, even that wasn’t enough. An interesting detail emerged in the first set: Fritz’s average forehand speed was higher than Sinner’s (132 km/h compared to 124 km/h). This suggests that Fritz should have been in a strong position with those forehands.
However, the real tragedy for Fritz was that despite this advantage, he didn’t hit a single forehand winner in that first set. While there may have been a few forced errors from Sinner, it only highlights Sinner’s ability to cover the court with extraordinary efficiency. This is just one area where Sinner outmatches Fritz by a significant margin.
To make matters worse for Fritz, Sinner delivered a stellar performance on his serve. He secured an impressive 83% of points on his first serve and hit 14 aces. In simpler terms, 25% of his first serves—whether they were missed or not—resulted in an ace. For comparison, his season average before yesterday’s match stood at 9.6%, while Fritz’s was 13.2%. Sinner demonstrated just how well-rounded he is as a player. Even small details, like executing two crucial forehand drop shots at critical moments, showcase his sharp awareness and adaptability.
In a season filled with challenges, Jannik Sinner had only one serious rival: Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard managed to hand Sinner three of his six losses throughout the season. It’s a season record that hasn’t been seen on the Tour for a long time. Sinner’s extraordinary consistency and performance throughout the year make it safe to say that he had a historically impressive season.
A historical perspective
Jannik Sinner’s achievements this season include winning two Grand Slams, reaching another semifinal, winning the ATP Finals, securing three Masters 1000 titles, and claiming two more 500-level titles as well as leading his nation at the Davis Cup Finals again.
These accomplishments put his season on par with other elite seasons in tennis history, and considering the context in which everything happened, his performance deserves even greater admiration.
Strength through adversity
Let’s not forget that Jannik Sinner faced a doping test setback this season. While he swiftly managed to prove that a banned substance, present only in trace amounts, entered his system by accident, it’s remarkable how little this affected his game. Yes, there were moments when his momentum wavered.
During the middle of the season, Sinner contended with injuries and illness, forcing him to miss several tournaments and contributing to some of his six losses. In total, he missed three Masters tournaments, but curiously, this might have helped him maintain his overall consistency.
Sinner arrived at the ATP Finals fresh and managed to win the title without expending too much effort. He retained that freshness for the Davis Cup as well so overall it certainly worked out well for him. The run he had to finish the year proved that he is the best player in the world and by a wide margin.
Consistency and longevity
Yes, Carlos Alcaraz managed to defeat Jannik Sinner three times this season, but the Spaniard hasn’t yet achieved the consistency required throughout an entire year. That inconsistency puts Sinner in a stronger position.
Such players push the entire Tour forward. Their dominance forces the competition to find new strategies and work tirelessly to improve. While this year’s ATP Finals competition may not have been the strongest, it only partially explains why it was so difficult for any player to challenge Sinner.
Jannik Sinner - A new standard for tennis
When you look at Jannik Sinner’s dominance, it’s a clearer and more honest answer to why a player can obliterate the competition in such a prestigious tournament. Sinner embodies what professional tennis is about now—relentlessly high speed, exceptional mental toughness, adaptability, and unmatched physical presence. He doesn’t just rely on talent; he combines skill, determination, and experience into a complete package.
Tennis, as a sport, is continually propelled by players like Sinner, who don’t just aim to win matches—they set new benchmarks for the game. Sinner, through his achievements and dominance, is not only redefining success on the court but also driving the competition to higher levels of intensity and commitment. Every match, every victory, pushes the boundaries of what other players have to do to succeed.
At this point, with Sinner establishing himself as the benchmark, the rest of the tennis world knows that the path to success requires not just talent but an unwavering commitment to consistency, resilience, and an ever-present hunger to improve.
