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PARIS, FRANCE October 06. Winner Rafael Nadal of Spain is congratulated by Jannik Sinner of Italy at the net after the Quarter Final match of the singles competition on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
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PARIS, FRANCE October 06. Winner Rafael Nadal of Spain is congratulated by Jannik Sinner of Italy at the net after the Quarter Final match of the singles competition on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner has created history at the Miami Open 2021. The 19-year-old became the fourth teenager after Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic to enter the final of the Miami Open. The self-proclaimed Rafael Nadal fan battled past Roberto Bautista Agut to seal his spot in the finale.
In a recent interview, Jannik Sinner’s coach Riccardo Piatti talked about his success as a tennis player so far. He revealed that his recent training with Rafael Nadal really helped him a lot.
“Of course, I was very happy because you need to live with these guys [Nadal]. These guys are quite simple and focused about what they are doing and Jannik likes [this] and he understands that Rafa is quite similar to him,” said the coach in the interview.
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USA Today via Reuters
Apr 2, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy waves to the crowd after his match against Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain (not pictured) in a men’s singles semifinal in the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The coach also pointed out a difference between Rafa and Sinner and sarcastically mentioned that it was a small one.
“The only difference is he [Rafa] won 20 Slams. Small difference,” added Piatti with a laugh.
Riccardo Piatti highlights Jannik Sinner understood the mind of Rafael Nadal after training with him
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Sinner and Rafa trained together right before the Australian Open 2021. Piatti emphasized that it was during this time that Sinner was able to understand Rafa’s mind and his gameplay. He also stated that it was the perfect moment of Sinner’s career to train with a legend like Nadal.
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PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 11: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning a point during his Men’s Singles Final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day fifteen of the 2020 French Open at Roland Garros on October 11, 2020, in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“He understands, ‘Okay if I do everything correct and I’m young and I need to continue like this, I can reach some of my dreams.’ It was in the perfect moment of his career. I think that these 14 days for Jannik were perfect to understand Rafa’s mind,” concluded the coach.
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Jannik Sinner will face Hubert Hurcakz in the finals of the Miami Open 2021. It is his first ATP Masters 1000 tournament finale and with his current form, he can surely end up on the winning side. Will Sinner be able to repeat Novak Djokovic’s campaign of 2007 and conquer Miami as a teenager?
