Jannik Sinner’s coach claims ‘work to be done’ in one area of improvement
Jannik Sinner’s fitness coach believes the Italian’s stamina can still improve following a dominant year for the world No 1.
2024 was a dominant season for the Italian, who lifted eight titles – the most of any man since Andy Murray in 2016 – and won two majors, at the Australian Open and US Open.
Sinner lost just six of 76 matches played on the ATP Tour this past year and holds a 3,915-point cushion as the world No 1, having moved to the top of the ATP Rankings in June.
It was a remarkable season for the 23-year-old, who still has the Davis Cup Finals to play in Malaga, less than a week after triumphing at the ATP Finals in Turin.
And, in a message that may worry some of his rivals, fitness coach Marco Panichi believes his charge still has huge room for improvement physically.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, Panichi said: “Beyond the various ‘Run, jump and lift weights’, what matters is the communication between team members, how you manage to motivate the guys and how you find the keys to stimulate them.
“Because you have to take into account that they have been doing this for years and from morning to night.
“And then the cohesion between everyone is fundamental: the information that reaches the player must be univocal. This makes the difference.
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“We will try to improve all the weapons that Jannik already has. In addition, we will try to improve his ability to stay on the pitch by optimizing everything. So, also physically lasting longer.
“An aspect that would allow him to always have a high cruising speed that would make him even more effective and efficient – there is still a lot of work to be done on this.”
Sinner’s ATP season ended with victory at the year-end championships in Turin, with the world No 1 cruising to victory in front of his home crowd.
The Italian became the first man since Ivan Lendl in 1986 to win the title without dropping a set, and also was just the seventh player to triumph in his home country.
Panichi, who previously worked with Novak Djokovic, said it was “magical” to watch Sinner prevail so emphatically in front of his home crowd.
He added: “This victory has a special flavour, it is magical.
“I was truly moved because this guy is exceptional. Seeing him happy, knowing how committed he is to training, after 40 years of doing this job, still makes a great impression.”
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