Mark Philippoussis has likened Jannik Sinner’s mindset to that of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic following the Italian’s stellar performance at the start of the season.
In 2023, there were indications that Sinner was poised to compete for major titles in 2024. He concluded the year with an impressive record of 64 wins and 15 losses, clinching four trophies, including a Masters 1000 title in Canada, and leading Italy to Davis Cup victory.
Sinner kicked off the new season on a high note by triumphing at the Australian Open. He defeated the tournament’s 10-time champion, Djokovic, in the semifinals and emerged victorious over Daniil Medvedev in the final despite being down two sets.
His resilience and aggressive play secured him the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Subsequently, he dominated the Rotterdam Open, securing his fourth career ATP 500 title.
In his assessment of Sinner, Philippoussis, a former World No. 8 singles and two-time Grand Slam finalist, highlighted the attributes that distinguish the Italian from his peers.
“He’s such a good kid. I jumped on it too [the bandwagon]. He was my pick, by the way, at the start of the tournament. He’s a great kid. You see him walking by, he looks at you, says hello, gives respect to anybody,” Philippoussis shared on the Sooshi Mango Saucy Meatballs Podcast.
“His team is great, and he’s got a champion’s mentality. After he wins, in the locker room, he’s going to ask, ‘how can I get better?’. That’s the difference between Nadal and Djokovic. That’s the champion’s mentality. These guys are always looking to get better…”
Sinner’s latest victory occurred in Rotterdam, where he defeated Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-4 in the final, extending his winning streak against the Australian to seven matches.
