What Jannik Sinner continues to achieve in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz is astounding and should not be diminished by the lack of competition.
Alas, it is the argument that so many continue to make, with the allure and excitement of men’s tennis having justifiably diminished since the Spaniard’s injury.
After all, at the very least, he provided some much-needed competition for the world number one, who is so far ahead of the rest of the ATP Tour.
Pat Cash has now been discussing Jannik Sinner’s special run of form, and explained how the motivation to prove he is better than his great rival is one key factor spurring him on to such greatness.
Pat Cash discusses Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Discussing the unstoppable Italian on BBC 5 Live Sport, the former Wimbledon champion was trying to get to the bottom of what makes Sinner so good.
Unsurprisingly, this was not a tough answer to find, but there are so many facets that have led to his incredible run of form and the records he has subsequently shattered.
Could a combination of Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Joao Fonseca, and Alex de Minaur beat Jannik Sinner?
He's just too good!
“He knows how to win,” Cash began, adding: “He knows his way around the tennis court. And at the moment, you know, there’s not a lot of competition out there for him, and he’s just chewing up the tournament wins one after the other.
“You can just see the determination on his face. Every time he gets out there, he just wants to get better. He just wants to keep pounding that ball and drive the players into the ground.
I mean, you can do it when he’s hot. It’s when you’re not hot, but can you do it? And can you come out and be competitive enough? And he’s still got that determination to prove people wrong.”
He concluded by referring to his rivalry with Alcaraz, before explaining what Italian fans have kept asking him about Sinner during his time in Rome.
Cash claimed: “A lot of people say, well, Carlos is the best player. I’m here in Italy, myself, and almost the first thing that comes out of their mouths is, ‘What do you think of Sinner?’ And they’re so proud of him. They’ve got photos of him in the clubhouse.
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
“He’s a massive, massive hero, and they want him to be successful, but more so than anything, he wants to prove that he’s not just another player who hits the ball hard, and he’s not just another player who hits the ball hard, and he’s still got stuff to learn.”
Alas, Sinner is expected to have a free pathway to the Roland Garros title following Alcaraz’s withdrawal due to injury.
What Jannik Sinner said after breaking Novak Djokovic’s all-time Masters 1000 record
A testament to Sinner’s greatness over the last few months has been his Masters 1000 win streak.
After all, he has not lost at an event of this stature since Shanghai back in October, claiming consecutive titles in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid. Rome now surely beckons.
| Rank | Player | Consecutive wins |
| 1. | Jannik Sinner | 32* |
| 2. | Novak Djokovic | 31 |
| 3. | Novak Djokovic | 30 |
| 4. | Roger Federer | 29 |
| 5. | Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal | 23 |
It was at this ongoing Italian Open that he finally took the lead in consecutive Masters 1000 wins, with Sinner having surpassed Novak Djokovic’s previous record of 31 wins.
Speaking on-court after achieving this legendary feat, the 24-year-old admitted: “I don’t play for records. I play just for my own story. At the same time, it means a lot to me.”
