“It won’t be an easy task. Botic van de Zandschulp poses a formidable challenge. I don’t pay much attention to the score; my focus is solely on the first round. I anticipate playing on Wednesday, which gives me ample time to prepare for the match. Competing indoors presents a completely different dynamic. Botic is an exceptional player, and I hold him in high regard.
While the crowd will undoubtedly be in his favor, I anticipate a fantastic atmosphere, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. Personally, I enjoy playing indoors, as the court here is quite fast. Both of us will strive to serve to the best of our abilities, and then we’ll see how things unfold.”
With these statements, Jannik Sinner provided an analysis of his upcoming first-round match in the ABN AMRO ATP 500 tournament set to take place in Rotterdam.
During the press conference, the Italian player addressed the criticism he faced last season for not making it to the group stage of the Davis Cup. He explained the challenges of trying to please everyone.
“They will always be there, and it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. The key is to confront them with the right mindset. In 2022, I suffered a five-set defeat against Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open. We finished late, and then I went to Davis Cup, but I wasn’t playing at my best. This time, the situation was different but somewhat similar. I believed it was best to let others play and ensure I am fully prepared for the end of the season. In Malaga, I gave it my all,” Sinner explained.
Jannik will commence his first tournament as a Grand Slam champion by facing the same opponent he defeated in the first round in Melbourne on January 14th, van de Zandschulp. As with the Australian Open, the Italian has the opportunity to create history in Rotterdam as well. His goal is to leave the ABN AMRO Open as the ATP No.3, which would be a new record for an Italian player in the Open Era.
In the past, only Nicola Pietrangeli achieved this ranking when the current ATP ranking system was not yet in effect. To achieve his goal and surpass Daniil Medvedev, who opted for a short break after the Australian final, Sinner must win the tournament.
After a few weeks of rest, Jannik will return to the court as the top seed in the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam. Daniil Medvedev, the current ATP No.3 and runner-up in Melbourne, will miss the ABN AMRO due to a foot injury.
As previously mentioned, Sinner’s path to victory will not be easy, although it brings back interesting memories. In the first round, Jannik will face Dutch tennis player Botic Van de Zandschulp. In the second round, Sinner may encounter Gael Monfils, who is considered the favorite among the incoming qualifiers.
In the quarter-finals, Jannik could potentially face a tricky opponent on these surfaces, such as Alexander Bublik, who has an advantage over Borna Coric and Milos Raonic. Then, in the semi-finals, Sinner might meet his close friend Hubert Hurkacz, both of whom possess powerful serves and present a challenging matchup. In the final, Sinner could potentially face Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, or even Grigor Dimitrov.
Vincenzo Santopadre, former coach of Matteo Berrettini until a few months ago, shared his thoughts on Jannik Sinner during the Talk on SuperTennis podcast. Naturally, one of the topics discussed was Sinner’s recent success.
“Tennis is characterized by the rapid succession of tournaments. It feels like a lifetime has passed since his triumph in Melbourne, considering that he will be back on the court in Rotterdam next week. In this sport, it is essential to always look ahead and continue working,” he stated.
Santopadre also had words of praise for the coaching team supporting Jannik Sinner, consisting of Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill.
“To date, this is the best possible team for him. It is evident, understandable, and perceptible. What stands out is that they don’t want to be seen as prodigies. They know how to handle success, displaying humility and a strong work ethic. The team shares the same values as Jannik, which enhances their performance.”
When asked about Sinner’s prospects for 2024 following his victory in Melbourne, Santopadre responded, “I don’t want to engage in a discussion about whether he will win another Slam or not because we shouldn’t put pressure on him. However, the strength of players like Jannik is that they understand what needs to be done and then take action.”
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org