Jannik Sinner ‘reminds me of Pete Sampras’, says Italian legend as he insists ‘I’m not envious of Jannik’
Nicola Pietrangeli believes Jannik Sinner “has the mental strength of the greatest champions” while he also expressed confidence that the reigning world No 1 will go on to break most of his records.
Sinner has enjoyed a storybook 2024 campaign as he won his maiden Grand Slam at the start of the year when he lifted the Australian Open trophy in January.
Five months later he became the first Italian to top the ATP Rankings as he rose to No 1 in the world while earlier in September he won his second Grand Slam at the US Open.
Many believe Sinner will dominate men’s tennis alongside Carlos Alcaraz over the next few years and Pietrangeli has highlighted the 23-year-old’s greatest strengths as he drew comparisons with all-time greats Rod Laver and Pete Sampras.
“What do you want me to say, my friend Laver was someone like that: the more complicated the situation got, the more he was able to get out of trouble,” he is quoted as saying by Ubitennis.com.
“I understand it may be a cumbersome comparison, Rod at the moment remains something unattainable, but Jannik has the mental strength of the greatest champions. And in some ways he reminds me of Sampras.”
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As for Sinner’s current competition, it’s only Alcaraz that can really keep up with him, according to Pietrangeli.
“Sinner is now the strongest of all, the numbers and the level of his tennis show it, in my opinion when he is well he is unbeatable,” he stated. “Perhaps only Carlos Alcaraz can bother him, for the others I don’t see any chance.
“In the next few years I foresee a duel with the Spaniard to win the most important tournaments. The others are far from their level, especially now that [Novak] Djokovic, due to his age, is inevitably declining. I would have liked to see Sinner with the Big Three at their best, we would have seen some great things.”
Pietrangeli, a two-time Roland Garros champion, has in the past been accused of being “jealous” of Sinner after suggesting the 23-year-old is unlikely to break his Davis Cup records.
He is sticking to his guns over the Davis Cup comment as he believes the modern-day format means it will be impossible for Sinner to pass his 164 Davis Cup appearances and 120 match wins.
Pietrangeli, who led Italy to two Davis Cup titles and also has two French Open runners-up trophies, is confident Sinner – who won the Davis Cup for Italy last year – will break all his other records.
“I am not envious of Jannik as someone wrote, I hope he breaks all my records and I am sure he will succeed. He will have to watch out for injuries but if he can stay healthy he will still take huge satisfaction,” the nonagenarian said.
“The only record he won’t be able to take away from me is that of Davis Cup appearances and victories, partly because far fewer matches are now played in this competition.”
