sinner-nitto-atp-finals-2024-media-day | Nitto ATP Finals

Jannik Sinner is back home a year later.

The Italian is preparing to compete again at home twelve months later at the Nitto ATP Finals. A year ago, Sinner put in a great performance that allowed him to reach the final in Turin, supported by the local fans. Now he returns as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, after a spectacular 2024 season, in which one of his few disappointments was missing the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome due to injury.

“Many things make this tournament special,” Sinner told ATP Media this Thursday in Turin. “First of all, being Italian and playing in Italy. I haven’t played in Italy this year, because I missed Rome. “That was really hard, but now I’m even more excited and happy to be here.”

“I give my season a very good grade. I would never have imagined winning so many things this year. Many things have happened. Thinking about how it all started in Australia… For me, it’s always about improving as a player, as a person, as a human being. I am even more proud and happy of the evolution. I hope that next year there will also be a process of improvement.”

Sinner has won 65 matches and is the player with the most titles in 2024 with a total of seven crowns, including two Grand Slams at the Australian Open and the US Open. At 23 years old, expectations in Turin are just as high. Although for some playing at home may be complicated, the Italian hopes that this will help him overcome the group stage, which he shares in the Ilie Nastase with Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.

“The atmosphere is incredible,” he acknowledged. “It’s very different from other tournaments because you can lose and still be in the tournament, so there are different scenarios. “I am very happy to be back here and I hope to be able to play some good tennis.”

A year ago there was a feeling of euphoria, when Sinner reached the final at the Inalpi Arena. It was a reflection of the growing success that Italian tennis is experiencing and, as a consequence, Sinner himself has established himself as No. 1 in the world, which reinforces him as a local hero in this edition of the Nitto ATP Finals 2024.

“Of course my success has had an impact [en la forma de ver el tenis en Italia]but we must not forget the rest,” Sinner clarified. “It started with what I have seen: [Fabio] Fognini, managing Monte Carlo; [Matteo] Berrettini winning many tournaments and reaching the Wimbledon final. Everything started to grow and, then, I arrived.”

“Now, we have a lot of great players. [Lorenzo] Musetti has had an incredible season, but also [Flavio] Cobolli, [Matteo] Arnaldi and [Luciano] Darderi. We have many players. Also in doubles with Simone [Bolelli] and Andrea [Vavassori]in addition to women’s tennis. Tennis is growing a lot in Italy and I am very happy that I am part of it and can help it grow, especially among many children who are starting to play.”

Sinner will begin his participation at the Inalpi Arena this Sunday night, when he takes to the court to face Nitto ATP Finals debutant Alex de Minaur. The Italian dominates the Lexus ATP Head2Head 7-0.

“Alex is a different player. He is very solid, he moves very fast and has a great mentality,” Sinner defined. “You have to win every point. It’s not going to give you anything, so you have to go for it. With his work ethic, he deserves to be in the position he is in.”

“He is not going to stop, he is going to continue improving as a player and it is nice to see him here,” he added. “The first time is always special. You see something new, you feel less pressure because it’s the first time. We will see what happens.”

After losing his first six matches against Medvedev, Sinner has turned his Lexus ATP Head2Head series around, leveling at 7-7. For his part, against Fritz he dominates 2-1, their last confrontation being the one in the US Open final in September.

“[Medvedev] “He has an incredible career, in which he has won many tournaments,” Sinner confessed. “He has a great mentality on the court, he moves incredibly well. He’s changing his play style a little bit, so he’s even more dangerous. He has been one of the key points in my evolution as a player, because I had a lot of problems defeating him. Now, each match is quite open, you never know what is going to happen. “He is a very tough rival.”

“I may know Taylor Fritz a little less, because we haven’t faced each other that much yet. But he is a great server, he hits the ball very hard. It has improved a lot in the last two years, starting with the service and continuing very well. “He is very good in all aspects and has had an incredible season.”