By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday October 24, 2021
Andy Murray’s former coach Miles Maclagan is beyond impressed by Jannik Sinner’s potential. While commentating Sinner’s 6-2 6-2 victory over Diego Schwartzman in the Antwerp final the Brit, a former World 200 who did coaching stits with Murray and Laura Robson, says that Sinner is a future No.1.
“I think we are watching a future No.1 - he’s got it all,” Maclagan said. “Mentality, the athleticism, there are very few places to go [higher in the rankings], you’d only imagine with the attitude he’s shown, with the great coach that he’s teamed up with, that he’s going to continue to improve. He’s a quiet character but there’s some real drive there.”
Sinner, who won his fourth title of 2021 and is one of just five ATP players to have won that many over the last ten months, believes that his work is far from complete.
The 20-year-old talked about his inability to back up his Washington, DC title this summer. He went to Toronto and lost to Aussie James Duckworth in the first round. Transitioning from tournament to tournament is something that Sinner hopes he can do better in the weeks and years to come.
“I can be very proud about the level I played, in the other way tomorrow we go to Vienna there's another tournament already, different conditions,” he said after Sunday’s victory. “I won in Washington then I lost first-round in Toronto. I'm trying to not make this happen in Vienna, hopefully. It's going to be a tough opponent, but I think now it's time to relax a little bit, try to enjoy the moment, and then when we are in Vienna it's a different tournament and then we will see what's coming."
Even with a zero pointer at Toronto, Sinner is still knocking on the door of the Top-10 as a 20-year-old. He is currently No.10 in the race, just 110 points behind Hubert Hurkacz for what would be the final spot in this year’s ATP Finals at Turin.
"Of course it's in your mind, trying to go there, and I would lie if it's not like that,” Sinner said of the Race to Turin. “Every player feels pressure, but when you go on court you have to try to think about the match, trying to use tactics against different players, I think this is the way to not think about Turin, and all the other stuff.
“Honestly, I love to play tennis and this is the reason why I play, obviously you would like to go to Turin or you want to win this match or that point, but sometimes it's happening and sometimes it's not happening and you have to accept that. But, yes, honestly I just try to play tennis.”