Jannik Sinner has been at the top of men’s tennis for the best part of three years.
After impressing in his early years on the tour, the Italian took his game to the next level in 2024, when he clinched his first two major titles.
Since then, Sinner has continued to go from strength to strength, adding two more Grand Slams and several ATP Masters 1000 crowns to his name.
How concerned are you about Jannik Sinner’s physical issues going forward in his career?
Serena Williams’ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, thinks the world number one’s change in topspin is a major factor in his success over the last few seasons.
Patrick Mouratoglou compares Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal
In a post on Instagram, Mouratoglou said: “Did you realise that Rafa played faster the last two years of his career, and did you realise that Jannik played slower the last two years?
“What’s interesting is, at the end of his career, Rafa’s ball is way faster and his topspin is declining. Why? Because he knew he wanted to shorten the rallies, and punch more.
“And for that, I slow down the spin, and my ball is going to naturally go faster, so I take more risks, so I have to.
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“On the other hand, the opposite is Sinner. Between 2025 and 2026, he plays with more spin and his ball is a little less fast. It’s because there is more spin.
“Why did he put more spin? Because he doesn’t want to miss. And he knows if I increase the spin, I increase my solidity.
“He fine-tuned his game, and at the moment, it cannot be better.”
Jannik Sinner’s incredible 2026 season so far
Sinner has looked almost unstoppable at times this year and currently has a season win-loss record of 37-3.
He didn’t have the start to the campaign he would have hoped for, having bowed out of the Australian Open in the semifinals before suffering a quarterfinal exit in Doha.
But after that, Sinner won five straight tournaments, all of which were ATP Masters 1000s: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome.
Despite crashing out in the second round of the French Open, Sinner has already recorded an outstanding season and will now set his sights on Wimbledon.
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