Jannik Sinner is truly in a league of his own. From the start of his 2024 season, he has been on a roll, kicking off with the Australian Open and capping it off with the ATP Finals title. This Italian star has come a long way since his debut in 2018! He once remarked on how quickly time has flown, but his intense training and focus on clinching the No. 1 rank this year clearly show his dedication. Now, he’s gearing up for the Davis Cup, ready to prove himself alongside Team Italy. His training coach, Marco Panichi can attest to that!

His training coach, Marco Panichi, can attest to Sinner’s caliber. Having trained Novak Djokovic since 2017, Panichi praises Sinner’s talent. In an interview with Sky Sports, he stated, “Jannik is an exceptional young man.” Panichi joined Sinner’s team in September after some setbacks with previous trainers. He witnessed Sinner’s power firsthand during the ATP Finals, where Sinner defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4. Panichi described the match as having “a special flavor.” With Sinner heading to the Davis Cup, Panichi is confident in his ability to help Team Italy secure another championship, “Sinner is doing great; we are in good hands.“

Sinner made his Davis Cup debut last year and already played a crucial role in clinching the title for Italy for the second time since 1976. He triumphed over Australia’s Alex De Minaur with a stunning 6-3, 6-0 victory. Earlier in the tournament, he faced tough competition against Serbia’s Djokovic in both singles and doubles but emerged victorious.

Panichi emphasizes their goal: “We aim to give him a cruising speed that allows him to be efficient and effective.” However, high stakes bring challenges. As Jason Goodall noted after witnessing Rafael Nadal’s defeat in his farewell tournament, “You can’t take anything for granted.” Panichi believes Sinner still has room to grow. Despite an impressive resume this year with eight titles—including two Grand Slams—he acknowledges that “there is still a lot of work to be done on this.”

Team Italy will face Argentina in their first match tomorrow. The tension is palpable as fans wonder if Sinner can carry his momentum from the ATP Finals into this match-up. With Panichi praising Sinner’s happiness and dedication after 40 years in coaching, it’s clear that many recognize the Italian’s remarkable skill. As Panichi noted, “Seeing him happy and witnessing his dedication in training is something that still impresses me after 40 years in this job.” These are strong words coming from someone who has seen Novak win nearly 12 Grand Slams and numerous titles. Even Casper Ruud admitted how challenging it is to face Sinner on the court after suffering a defeat at the ATP Finals semifinals.

Ruud gets candid about the power Sinner brings to the court.

On November 16th, Sinner secured a spot in the final with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Casper Ruud. Following the defeat, Ruud offered an interesting take on Sinner’s style. During his post-match conference, he pointed out the significant differences between Sinner and Novak Djokovic. “No, I don’t think so, in my opinion, because they play different tennis,” Ruud said. “Jannik hits a faster ball than Novak. He doesn’t let you breathe.”

Ruud explained that Sinner’s relentless pace sets him apart. With Djokovic, players can engage in longer rallies and find their rhythm. “With Novak, you can play rallies,” he noted. “Not going to say it’s easier to play Novak because he’s the best in history. At least with Novak, you can play more rallies and not be terrified of him ripping a bomb down the line.” He added, “For me, you don’t realize how fast Jannik plays unless you watch him play live.”

Sinner, on the other hand, was thrilled after his semifinal performance: “I’m very happy with today’s performance. I’m very happy to be in the final.” He then went on to defeat Taylor Fritz and clinch the title. This victory highlighted his dominance this season. Surely he must have felt more prepared than last year when he lost to Djokovic, Sinner said, “I feel like I have more experience.” Now as he and his team prepare to face Argentina tomorrow, do you think Sinner can lead them to another win? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments!