With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to injury, Jannik Sinner is dominating on the ATP Tour.
The Italian secured his sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title at the Italian Open with his victory over Casper Ruud in the final on Sunday.
Sinner completed the Career Golden Masters with his triumph, having won each of the nine tournaments at the level; a feat only Novak Djokovic has managed.
Jannik Sinner is now a bigger favorite to win Roland Garros than Rafael Nadal ever was
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He will be the overwhelming favourite heading into Roland Garros, which is the only major he needs to complete the Career Grand Slam.
While Sinner has been the winner at each of the last five big tournaments on the ATP Tour, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski isn’t getting tired of the world number one’s performances.
Greg Rusedski reacts after Jannik Sinner wins Rome title
“It’s never boring watching someone trying to achieve what he’s doing,” said Rusedski in an episode of ‘Off Court with Greg‘.
“It’s genius, it’s masterhood, it’s playing at the highest level day in, day out. I mean, it’s absolutely brilliant.
“I mean, there’s very few players, and I think it’s number six in a row in the Master Series, and this year he’s won every single one.
“I can’t remember somebody winning nine in a year, and that’s something he’s on for, which is quite incredible.
“Yes, there’s pressure in playing in Rome, but you’re going to get mentally and physically tired, and you’re going to have a day where you’re a little bit off or somebody pushes you. He wasn’t off that day (in the semifinals).
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“Medvedev elevated, and the first time we saw Medvedev elevate in his career, I think you have to go all the way back to 2019 against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open when he announced himself to the world.
“He said, I’m going to go toe-to-toe with Novak, because Novak at the time was the physical beast, and he just said, I’m going to make this physical. I’m going to stay in the rallies for as long as I have to, to find a solution.
“He lost in four sets, but again, he’s the guy who beat Alcaraz, who was unbeaten, and beat him in Indian Wells.
“Now against Sinner, you know, Sinner got lucky there, let’s be frank. Cramping, rain delay, coming back the next day.
“If we don’t have the rain delay, and the cramping doesn’t disrupt things in there, Medvedev possibly gets the biggest upset of the year after his upset against Alcaraz.
“But we have to say, Sinner, oh my God. I mean, incredible to do that in Rome. Last year we had Paolini, this year we have Sinner. I mean, he’s on a tear.”
Greg Rusedski says Daniil Medvedev can challenge Jannik Sinner in Paris
Daniil Medvedev handed Sinner his biggest test en route to the Italian Open title, forcing him to a decisive third set.
“What I like about Medvedev, his new team with Rohan Goetzke, as well as Thomas Johansson, have improved the forehand,” said Rusedski.
“Watch the take back at the forehand since they’ve started working. More compact, less loopy, taking the ball earlier on the returns when he has to, and then sometimes going all the way back to the baseline.
“So, we all remember that match in Monte Carlo. He lost love and love to Berrettini. Everybody’s like, oh my God, this is anomaly, what happened? Berrettini played great. But you could see Daniil trying to put things into his game and use it in a match. It was like a perfect storm.
“And now you look at him as the guy that can possibly mix it with Sinner at the French Open. So, let’s give a lot of kudos to team Medvedev and Daniil himself for what he’s doing.”
Medvedev has only ever gone as far as the quarterfinals at the French Open, which he managed in 2021.
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