"Like comparing Rod Laver and Roger Federer" - Jannik Sinner cannot be compared to yesteryear Italian star Nicola Pietrangeli, insists Ken Rosewall

Australian legend Ken Rosewall recently gave his take on the sport's evolution over the years and Pietrangali's recent claim surrounding Jannik Sinner. At 89, Rosewall shared valuable insights into the differences between his era and the modern game, refusing to outright declare the better player between Pietrangeli and Sinner.

During an appearance in the "La politica nel pallone" podcast this year, Pietrangeli acknowledged Sinner's prowess but claimed that the 22-year-old wouldn't be able to better his record of 164 matches in Davis Cup. He said (as quoted by Sportface):

"This success of Jannik Sinner goes beyond sport. Seeing this little boy win such an important tournament like the Australian Open gives you a boost of joy. Sinner has no weak points at the moment, even if he can always improve. ... To beat my record, however, it will take him two lifetimes."

In a recent interview with "Tennis Italiano", the 8-time Grand Slam winner was asked about his opinion in light of Nicola Pietrangeli's claims. In response, Ken Rosewall offered a very thought-provoking analogy and said (via Punto De Break):

"Comparing him to Sinner is like comparing Rod Laver to Roger Federer, it's impossible to compare, they are different eras," he remarked.

Rosewall highlighted that while Rod Laver was considered one of the greatest players of his generation, comparing him to one of the all-time greats Roger Federer was difficult, citing the massive changes in the game since his time as a professional, as well as people's preferences, with some appreciating the 'old-style' of tennis more.

Ken Rosewall then admired World No.1 Jannik Sinner, dubbing him a 'real athlete' and predicting that the rivalry between Sinner and Carlos Alcaras would shape the future of tennis, applauding both players' mentality, adaptability, and work ethic.

Rosewall ended the interview applauding Sinner's strength in the game and talked about how the young Italian moved so well for someone of his stature and looked like the perfect tennis player.

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Ken Rosewall calls Novak Djokovic 'unique' and appreciates his mentality

Tennis Australia Legends Of Lawn Barbecue - Source: Gettyfou

During the same interview, Rosewall also shared his insight on Novak Djokovic, expressing how the Serbian always has an unexpected weapon in his arsenal. Rosewall talked about how Djokovic's ability to adapt to the situation is one of the main reasons behind him reaching the Grand Slam finals, even at 37.

He specifically appreciated the 24-time Grand Slam champion's ability to play with the opponents' minds by starting the rally, which could be more present in many players. He elaborated on his argument and said,

"Djokovic is someone who knows how to respond differently, and he always knows how to start the rally, while the flaw of many, including the Australians, is that they think about how to close the point but don't concentrate much on how to put the ball back into play."

Rosewall won 8 Grand Slams, winning his last Slam in the Australian Open in 1972 at 37.