Simone Vagnozzi, the coach of Jannik Sinner, has described his charge as a shark and a hunter and highlighted the key takeaway from Sinner-Djokovic battles.
According to Vagnozzi, of World No. 1 and #4, the player who remains more aggressive wins the match. Sinner has teamed up with Vagnozzi since parting ways with longtime coach Riccardo Piatti in Feb 2022 while also Darren Cahill to his camp in June 2022.
Sinner folded the best season of his career in 2023 as he clinched 4 ATP titles plus Davis Cup (ITF) while compiling an impressive 64-15 (81%) win-loss record. The 22-year was drawn against Djokovic thrice in November where he won his round-robin match against the Serbian in the ATP Finals in the first of three matchups. He then lost to 24-time Grand Slam champion in the final of the championship match of the same event before downing him at the Davis Cup semis. Thanks to the November victories, Sinner is finally of the mark in head-to-head series between the two which the Serbian leads 4-2.
After saving three Mps against Djokovic in the Davis Cup, Sinner led his home country to their first Davis Cup title since 1976. Talking to La Stampa, Vagnozzi discussed his near-perfect run at the ATP finals and victorious finish at Davis Cup as he gave an insight into the young Italian’s mentality.
“Of course, he arrived full of confidence after the final in Turin. From the US Open onwards, the end of the season has been very intense, but excellent,” the Italian said.
“The decision to skip the group stage of the Davis Cup in Bologna ended up being the correct one. Winning the Davis Cup has always been a big goal for Jannik.
“Jannik is a shark, a hunter. When he smells blood he does not let his prey escape. That security comes from everything he has worked to get here, from the knowledge that daily work gives him.
“If you know that you have not done something well, You get nervous. Jannik has a very clear conscience, that’s why he is always so calm. In the last two years he has matured a lot, and I think he transmits it by the way he shows himself on the court.
“There Jannik is less serious than what it seems: he has adapted very well to a group, Davis [Cup], made up of very simple people. He likes to joke all the time and encourage the rest.”
Vagnozzi who called time on his career in 2015 also shed light on Sinner’s developing rivalry with the tennis’ veteran statesman and World No. 1 Djokovic who will by 37 in the coming May.
“When he and Djokovic face each other, the most aggressive [player] is the one who wins. It was already seen in Turin and it was demonstrated again in Malaga,” the 40-year-old added.
“He can and must still improve in many aspects, especially from a physical point of view, and also in some tactical situations. He must stabilise his serve. It has worked very well in recent weeks, but it must become an even more efficient hit.”