Jannik Sinner continues to insist that he cannot be compared to the Big Three, despite what he continues to achieve with seemingly every passing week.
The records that the 24-year-old has already broken are racking up at a frightening rate, and it has already become clear that he will finish his career with a legacy comparable to the legendary trio that came before him.
Alas, no matter how often he is compared to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, the world number one remains hugely magnanimous.
In these latest comments, whilst speaking to Tennis TV, Jannik Sinner has once again played down this suggestion, whilst also explaining exactly how it feels to be playing as well as he currently is.
Jannik Sinner claims he can’t be compared to the Big Three
Naturally, the interview had to begin with the Big Three suggestion.
However, Sinner was, and continues to always be, keen to distance himself from such greatness.
When does Jannik Sinner next lose a tennis match? 👀
“I know it means a lot, but at the same time, I continue, you know, to say the same things over again,” he began. “I just cannot compare myself with Rafa, Roger, Novak.”
He explained why: “What they did in the past has been incredible, and I would never, ever have been in a position, you know, to compare myself with them.
“At the same time, it is an incredible achievement from my side and my team and also my family, they know how much effort and sacrifices I put in to be in the position where I am and always putting tennis in the first place. This is what I’ve always done, and I’m extremely happy for this kinds of results.”
Sinner then discussed how good it feels to be on court at the moment in his seemingly unstoppable state, adding: “Yeah, I mean, it’s nice, it’s a really good feeling.
“It has always been good, so even though sometimes things are not going your way. At the same time, mentally, you know that you don’t… You will not always have everything under control, and you have to be ready for that, and people and players are gonna come up to me, and then they try to push me to the limit, and I just try to be as ready as I can.
Is a French Open boycott realistic?
Players aren't happy with the prize money on offer…
“It’s always, I do believe that success, it always starts with the practice sessions and the daily routines and everything else, and then the match itself, it just, hopefully, it’s just, you know, to be enjoyable.”
This comes not long after Sinner put his support behind a potential boycott of the Grand Slams, echoing Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff’s claims.
What history could Jannik Sinner create at the Italian Open?
The reason that Sinner finds himself so intertwined with the Big Three is because he keeps closing in and breaking plenty of their records.
Particularly at the Masters 1000 level, the rate at which the Italian keeps winning makes it so every accolade is up for grabs.
Sinner actually achieved a historic feat faster than the Big Three managed in Madrid, and is now enjoying a greater win streak at this level than Nadal mustered across his entire career, with Federer’s best run now in sight too.
And, with Carlos Alcaraz ruled out through injury for the foreseeable future, the competition for Sinner is nonexistent.
He continues to insist that he does not care about the records, but will surely have his sights set on beating Djokovic’s 31-match win streak at Masters 1000 events. Sinner is just three wins away from equalling it, and four from creating history at his home event.
