Jannik Sinner has been compared to tennis legend Andy Murray as the world No.1 gears up for this week’s ATP Finals in Turin.
Sinner has enjoyed a stellar 2024, with Grand Slam title wins bookending the Italian’s start and end to the year.
And it’s because of the support from his fellow Italians that former tennis star Mats Wilander believes Sinner will triumph in Turin, akin to Murray’s two Wimbledon wins.
Speaking to Eurosport, Wilander stated: “Jannik Sinner is the big favourite. I think it has to do with the fact that this year has been unbelievable. He won the two hard-court Grand Slams that we had, and he won another five tournaments.
“Also, it’s back in Italy. If this happened last year, I think there’d be a lot of pressure on him. But he already showed up last year, beating Novak [Djokovic] in the Round Robin, and of course, losing in the final.
“But he made it to the final, and then he won the Davis Cup. So I think in terms of pressure from his home fans, he’s using it the way Andy Murray used the Wimbledon crowd, which is going to give him inspiration.”
Of course, Sinner has played in Italy before, but none of his previous home appearances have carried the same weight as the ATP Finals.
That’s mainly because of the bumper prize on offer to the victor, with a whopping £3.8m handed out to the winner, should they go the entire event undefeated.
On the impact a home crowd can have at this particular event, Wilander added: “It’s going to actually make him more relaxed at the same time as more fired up in a way. Sinner goes in with a lot to lose, but I think he’s got way more to win because he’s back in Italy.
“Of course, we had Boris Becker playing the ATP Finals back in Germany. We had John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors playing the ATP Finals in those days. It was called the Grand Prix at Madison Square Garden. They all did well when they had the crowd with them.
“I think Sinner is going to have the same destiny in terms of playing well. Now, Carlos Alcaraz. How can you ever be considered the favourite when Alcaraz is in the field? But he might not have to play him. Therefore, he’s the favourite.”
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