Jannik Sinner has been encouraged to set his sights on the Grand Slam achievements of tennis legends Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, with Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) president Angelo Binaghi suggesting that such totals would be an admirable target.
The young Italian made headlines earlier this year by clinching his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, followed by another victory at the US Open in September. With an impressive tally of seven titles already secured in 2024, Sinner is on track to finish the season as the ATP world No. 1, boasting an exceptional record of 65 wins against just six losses (a remarkable 91.5% win rate).
Djokovic currently holds the record for the most men’s Grand Slam titles with 24, while Nadal and Federer follow closely with 22 and 20, respectively. During an appearance on Radio Rai Gr Parlamento, Binaghi speculated on Sinner’s potential to reach an astounding 30 Grand Slam titles, though he emphasized that the most crucial factor for Sinner is maintaining his health.
“How many Slams can Sinner win? He has won two in a year: he is fifteen years younger than Djokovic, so with two a year, he would reach 30,” Binaghi remarked. “That might seem ambitious, but averaging the achievements of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, it’s a worthy goal to aspire to.”
However, he stressed that the key concern lies in ensuring Sinner remains in peak physical condition. “The focus shouldn’t just be on points or tournament victories; it’s essential to monitor his health. If he stays fit, Jannik is a phenomenal athlete who is continuously learning and believes in hard work.”
Binaghi also pointed out that whether Sinner ends up with 10, 20, or 30 Grand Slams is less important than the fact that Italian tennis is now a dominant force on the global stage.
In a separate matter, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed in August that Sinner would not face a ban following two failed anti-doping tests in March. An independent tribunal ruled that he bore no responsibility for the incident.
Sinner had tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited anabolic steroid, on March 10 and 18 during the Indian Wells Masters. The tribunal accepted his explanation that the substance entered his system due to a massage from his former physiotherapist, who had used a steroid spray to treat a cut on his finger.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed the tribunal’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a ban of up to two years for the world No. 1.
Binaghi expressed optimism regarding the outcome of the CAS ruling. “We have great faith in the CAS. WADA’s appeal isn’t questioning the incident itself but rather the application of existing rules regarding this accidental situation,” he stated.
He acknowledged the challenges Sinner faced in managing the media scrutiny during this turbulent time, noting, “For Jannik, it was quite an achievement to navigate everything and keep matters private. In my view, the most intense phase of this storm has passed. The judgment from CAS will likely be crucial in early 2025.”