Jannik Sinner may be dominating the 2024 tennis season, but beneath his remarkable success lies a profound sadness. Ranked No. 1 in the ATP rankings with an astounding 11,180 points, Sinner’s ascent to the top has been shadowed by a heartbreaking personal loss—the recent passing of his beloved aunt, Meggi Rauchegger.

During his triumphant run at the US Open, where he secured a hard-fought victory against Taylor Fritz in the final, Sinner’s joy was tempered by the emotional weight he carried with him. Fighting back tears, he dedicated the title to his aunt, who had been gravely ill. “I would like to dedicate this title to my aunt,” he said during the trophy presentation, his voice heavy with emotion. “She is really not feeling well health-wise. I don’t know how much longer I will have her in my life.” His words revealed the deep love he held for her and the emotional burden he bore, even in the glow of his greatest triumph.

Tragically, just as Sinner began to celebrate his success, he received the devastating news—his aunt Meggi had passed away. At only 56, her untimely death hit Sinner like a tidal wave, leaving him reeling from the loss of someone he described as a key figure in his life. “It’s a very difficult moment,” Sinner said through tears. “She was a very important person in my life… I wanted to share this win with her.” He reflected on the role she played in his childhood, often stepping in when his parents were too busy with work, making her presence all the more irreplaceable.

Just days after dedicating his US Open victory to her, Sinner found himself on the court once again, but this time with a heavy heart. In his opening match against Nicolas Jarry, Sinner fought through the pain and secured another victory. After the final point, the 23-year-old Italian star took a moment, looking up towards the sky in a quiet, poignant tribute to the aunt who meant so much to him. It was a small gesture, but one that carried the weight of immeasurable grief—a reminder that even in moments of victory, loss can cut the deepest.

During this match, Jannik Sinner had a rough start in the beginning. Sinner could not return the powerful serves thrown by Jarry. Who ultimately won the first set 6-4 after delivering an ace, putting Sinner in a position where he needed to recover. However, Sinner fought back and ultimately won the match with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, marking his 12th consecutive victory.

Thus, the Sinner streaks for the tournament victory extends and complements the existing two Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open and the US Open, andwith a total of six titles on the tour level. But as far as his performance this week is concerned, it begs the question of what made him fumble the first set of the match.

Sinner expresses a commitment to improve after service struggles

Following his victory at the China Open 2024, Jannik Sinner admitted to having trouble with his second serve against Nicolas Jarry. “He played some very good tennis,” he said, in a post-match interview. “I was struggling to return his serve.” 

The world’s No.1 player is known for his powerful first serve, which has been calculated to reach speeds of up to 221 km/h (137.3 mph). However, he seemed to lack that quality during the first set of the China Open match. And his opponent’s aggressive returns put him on the back foot which brought out a vulnerability in his game.

By the end of 2023, Sinner was able to perfect his serve game. Which resulted in a higher hold percentage and fewer double faults. And by the latter half of the year, his hold percentage rose from 61.6% to 64.9%, while his double faults decreased from 3.3 to 2.1 per match.

During this time, with the help of his team, he changed his technique. Which led to some impressive progress towards more aces. However, even with such improvements, Sinner is already aware of some of the shortcomings of his second serve. “After the US Open, we put a lot of work into that serve,” he said. “I am glad about my process, but I can still improve.”

All in all, As Sinner remains the defending champion in Beijing, fans will be keen to witness how he attempts to overcome these hurdles. It will be important in the manner that he wants this season to be a success. Will he be ready for the challenge and better himself?