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Similar to Roger Federer Helping Rafael Nadal Evolve, Jannik Sinner Name Drops Two ATP Pros Who Pushed Him to Another Level

Published 03/28/2024, 5:31 AM EDT

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via Reuters

In tennis, there’s a dynamic where each player finds someone who pushes them to be better—someone who helps them reach new heights in their game. Rafael Nadal saw Roger Federer as that person, and the two players’ competition inspired them both to become the best. In the current world, just like Nadal and Federer before, Jannik Sinner revealed the names of those tennis players who keep him motivated to do better and better.

While the Italian tennis player has made his place in the semi-final round of the Miami Open, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz are in the quarterfinal round, giving their best to make it against Sinner. After achieving a quarter-final victory, in an interview with Tennis Channel, the 22-year-old tennis star was asked about the players who push him to be better, just like Nadal worked on himself to stand against Federer.

Jannik Sinner talks about Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz motivating for the better

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In response, Sinner opened up about how Alcaraz and Medvedev kept him on his toes with the competition and his rise on the court. “I think that’s good to see and this also makes me a better player not only Carlos but there are also you know Daniil is a one kind of player who made me a better player because I never beat him before. I try to work on you know a couple of certain volleys drop shots, opening the court with the shot, corners and angles, so you know for sure, there are players who makes you better,”  he said.

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Along with that, he highlighted that, at first, he was not able to achieve victory against the Russian tennis player, but after improving certain things, he also carries a chance to do better against him. But before that, he explained that to stand against Alcarz or Medvedev, tennis players have to reach a certain level, such as semi-finals or finals, to even get a playing opportunity against them.

Sinner won against the Russian tennis player in the Australian Open final match, lifting his first Grand Slam title. On the other hand, he faced defeat in the Indian Wells finals against his 20-year-old opponent, while he put forward the idea that tough competition makes players better and better. A few years ago, when the 20-time Grand Slam champion retired, Andy Murray also talked about the motivational trail.

Murray discussed how the Big Three improved each other 

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Back in 2022, in a conversation with Tennis Channel, the British tennis player, after giving a heartfelt tribute to Federer, highlighted how the big three members pushed one another and made each other better players over the years, with competition and rivalries.

He stated, “He made Novak better; Novak made Rafa better, Rafa made Roger better. They made each other more complete players. It’s moments like this where you are able to step back, take a macro view, and realize that we are a family on some level in this weird little tennis world and this tour.”

Besides, he also highlighted how Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, had the same energy with each other, and then both of them dominated the court.

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Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Sinner getting a push from his opponents? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash, tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist.
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Edited by:

Ananya Giri