“I just try to understand what works best for each opponent, try to play the best tennis possible,” Jannik Sinner said, explaining the reason behind how he manages to tackle each challenge falling in his way. The young Italian recently took down Taylor Fritz to lift the ATP Finals title among his home crowd. While the nation was already proud of him, he continued to give them more reasons to cheer with a massive performance in Malaga. As  Sinner turned out to be unstoppable with his absolute momentum, team Holland’s captain made a staggering remark about him.

Dutch Davis Cup captain Paul Haarhuis made headlines with a mix of humor and strategy ahead of their final clash against Italy. Haarhuis highlighted his team’s recent victories but admitted the challenge of facing the defending champions, led by Jannik Sinner. “We are playing so well, the boys are gaining confidence from these victories. But the other semi-finalists are very tough teams,” he said, in an interview with Tuttosport.

Along with the statement, he also extended a humorous remark, saying, “Italy is the reigning champion with Sinner. I think we will have to poison their food a little.” While joking, the Dutch captain also highlighted the tough task ahead. He pressed on his team’s unity and strength, saying, “We have to go out on the court with great attributes on Sunday. What we are doing is really great because we don’t have players in the top 5, 10, or 15 in the world. But this is a team effort. In the past years, we have shown that we can be there.”

Haarhuis praised Sinner’s talent and his consistent performance. “Sinner has stood out for his calmness in moments of tension. His personality and his talent play a role behind his victories. We have seen the same thing with other Italian players over the years. Traditionally they tend to be quite excitable on the pitch, but Sinner is different. What Sinner has is a more German personality. He just shows up, does his thing, and has it all.”

This update emerged after Italy advanced to the final with a 2-0 semi-final win over Australia. Matteo Berrettini beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in a thrilling three-set match before Sinner delivered a clinical performance against Alex de Minaur. After securing the win, Sinner reflected on his form. “Every match is a new challenge, but I try to stay calm and stick to my plan,” said the World No. 1. “Playing for my country is a special feeling. I just focus on my game and give everything for the team.” Sinner will now aim to lead Italy to back-to-back Davis Cup titles in Malaga.

Spanish player highlights the similarity between Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal

Seventeen-year-old Andres Santamarta had the experience of a lifetime training with tennis legend, Rafael Nadal and rising star, Jannik Sinner, at the Davis Cup 2024 Finals. Although Santamarta wasn’t part of the main Spanish team, he still managed to play a role as a hitting partner for Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, and Roberto Bautista Agut during their preparation for the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands. Reflecting on his time with Nadal, he said, “To me Rafa is a role model. I’ve watched him for so many years, at the top for as long as I can remember. I’m very lucky and I hope I can learn something from him and apply it to my tennis, to my game.”

Santamarta also shared his admiration for world no. 1 Jannik Sinner. “I was also happy because he’s the world No. 1 and I really wanted to share a practice session with him. I really loved it. I admire him. The thing that really struck me was the intensity, the same as with Rafa. He’s a very relaxed guy, he doesn’t get annoyed, and he plays with such intensity. He misses and he’s already prepared for the next ball. The thing I like about Sinner is how he moves and his backhand.” Santamarta’s experience with these legends made it clear that he understands both players’ game and therefore the verdict he gave might be credible. What are your thoughts on the same?