The sky is the limit for World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who just clinched his second consecutive Australian Open title against Alexander Zverev on January 25. This victory brings his total Grand Slam titles to three, including his 2024 US Open win. Sinner has put on an impressive show, sealing unexpected victories and taking charge right from the start. He has truly dominated the hard courts over the past year. Just when fans think he can’t get any better, he surprises them—and Andre Agassi—again and again.

Earlier on Monday, Darren Cahill, Sinner’s coach, spoke to Functional Tennis about Jannik’s improvements. He mentioned that his “good friend” and former mentee, Agassi, always has plenty to say about the Italian No. 1. Cahill shared, “He speaks to me a lot about Jannik. Says when he sees Jannik play, he sees every ball as an opportunity to finish the point. That’s what’s Jannik; most players like myself will get onto the court and you have to try to find a weakness, and he puts the ball into a certain part of the court where you feel like you’re safe. But no ball is safe.”

True to word, Jannik has a unique approach on the court. With his effortless gliding across the surface, you can almost hear his sneakers squeaking as he sprints, stretches, and slides to reach shots that most players wouldn’t even attempt. His ability to switch from defense to offense in an instant is mind-blowing! Just like Agassi, Sinner showcases clean ball striking and incredible court awareness. According to Cahill, “That’s his greatest strength. That he can generate pace, power, angle, and precision from any part of the court, and he’s improved his game; he’s coming to the net more now.”

In the final against Alexander Zverev, Sinner’s serve was razor-sharp, allowing him to win an impressive 85% of points behind his first delivery. He didn’t face a single break point, joining an elite group of just three players this century to achieve that in a Grand Slam final—alongside Federer and Nadal. Meanwhile, Sascha struggled, winning only 69% of points on his serve and coming closest to a breakpoint at 6-5 in the first set. However, Sinner’s incredible 21-shot rally forced a tie-break, and from there, he capitalized on every opportunity—talk about formidable!

As Cahill noted, “Transitioning more sensing more opportunities; his serve has improved. We changed a little bit with his service; it went from a platform to a step-up serve. So he’s willing to take chances within his game to become better.” This is just the hard-court side of the season; it’s still early days! But so far, Sinner is generating plenty of buzz. But the American legend hasn’t just praised Sinner’s skills on court, he’s captivated by his personality as well!

Andre Agassi is impressed by Sinner’s persona

Jannik Sinner had an incredible 2024 season, clinching both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open, along with a total of six titles, including the ATP Finals. He truly became a force to be reckoned with! Even in the face of setbacks, like his loss at the 2024 China Open and the resurfacing of his doping controversy, Sinner remained calm and polite both on and off the court. Ahead of the 2024 ATP Finals in November, Agassi couldn’t contain his admiration for Sinner. “I love Sinner,” he said, praising his character and down-to-earth nature. He added, “He is a very good person, very humble, and always attentive to everyone.”

Agassi knows all about being in the spotlight himself, famous for his charisma and powerful game. Reflecting on Sinner’s fresh talent, he described him as someone who draws people in: “It’s easy to get along with him; he is such an interesting person…” Sinner showcased this humble side once again after defeating Zverev in three straight sets—6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3—in just two hours and 27 minutes.

Later seeing the World No.2 break down in tears after his third attempt at clinching his first Grand Slam title, Sinner was quick to console him. Standing beside Zverev with a hand on his shoulder during the award ceremony, he even held Sascha’s shoulders while offering words of encouragement before they embraced in a touching hug.

This moment truly highlighted Sinner’s sportsmanship and compassion, adding an emotional layer to Zverev’s loss. It’s clear that Sinner’s character sets him apart and could take him far in his career. With such a strong foundation of humility and talent, there’s no telling how high he can soar in the world of tennis. What’s your take on this?