Exclusive interview with Sinner: “Being at No. 1 is everyone’s dream” | ATP Tour

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Exclusive interview with Sinner: “Being at No. 1 is everyone’s dream”

The Italian reflects from Monte Carlo

June 10, 2024

It was a quiet day at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, the training base of some of the biggest stars in world tennis and home to the first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the season. The final of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters was played almost two months ago and the sounds of cheers were replaced by the excitement of juniors training on the same famous courts.

However, there was one big difference from a typical day at the club. Jannik Sinner, who trains at the facility, received the trophy as No. 1, presented by PIF, and from ATP President Andrea Gaudenzi.

“It certainly means a lot to me. Being number one in the world means you had a great year; actually an incredible year with a lot of success, and obviously [estoy] very happy about this,” Sinner told the ATP in Monte Carlo. “On the other hand, you always have tournaments. You have to play the most important tournaments. So it’s a great privilege to be a part of this, and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

“I am very happy to share this with my entire team and the people who are close to me. And I think, on the other hand, I’m very confident that I can still improve some things and I’m looking forward to it.”

Sinner explained that while he answered questions about his rise to world No. 1 during Roland Garros, at the time he was completely focused on preparing for his semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz and didn’t think much about the achievement, which he secured two days earlier after the Djokovic’s announcement about his withdrawal from the quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud in Paris.

“I still had the last game in my mind. So, without a doubt, I was happy. And it’s kind of a relief. This is a dream. [Es] what I dreamed of when I was a child. It was just a dream that day. And now that I can say I’m No. 1 in the world, it means a lot to me. So it took some time, that’s for sure. It was a very nice feeling,” Sinner said. “Now, to say that I am number one in the world is incredible. We were talking together and watching [a mi familia] a little excited and also from my side, it’s incredible.”

The new world No. 1 ATP presented by PIF 🏆

ATP Tour President Andrea Gaudenzi presented the trophy to Jannik Sinner at the Monte-Carlo Country Club 🙌#S1NNER | #PIF | #ATPRankings | #partnerpic.twitter.com/WzxKgBLTNn

— ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) June 10, 2024

“World number one is the achievement I was looking for, and obviously now I have to see how long I can stay there.”

Sinner on Monday became the first Italian singles player, man or woman, to reach the top of the tennis world since the inception of rankings in 1973. He is only the 29th man to rise to world number one.

The magnitude of the achievement has not escaped the 22-year-old.

“I think it is the greatest meaning we have in our sport. It’s the best number you can have. “This is everyone’s dream, to be in that position,” Sinner said. “Being number one in the world is an achievement that is built in a year. Now, obviously, we’ll see how long I can stay there, and that’s a different challenge.”

The Italian has a good mentality for that. Since his first days on the ATP Tour in 2019, Sinner has made it clear that he is motivated by the process of trying to improve. He explained that that won’t change even though he is the number one player in the world.

“I wake up with a goal and then my biggest goal is to improve as a player and as a person. And in my mind, I was always wanting to work hard, and [pienso] that with my work ethic, and then with my mentality, something positive was going to happen,” Sinner said. “It was just a dream to become number one in the world and then if my maximum was number 3, I was number 3. But after my career, I want to say that I gave 100 percent every day. And I think that is my mentality, the one I had until now and the one I will have until the end of my career.”