Jannik Sinner reveals key to his mental improvement this season
Jannik Sinner has explained a method he has used that has contributed to his development mentally this year after finishing the ATP Finals round-robin stage with a perfect record.
The world No 4 also confirmed he is “all good” physically after injury concerns were raised when he was seen holding his back during his win over Holger Rune in Turin.
Sinner downed Rune 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in his third and final group stage match at the 2023 ATP Finals on Thursday to top the Green Group with a 3-0 record on his full debut at the event. It was the Italian’s first win against the 20-year-old Dane, who he had lost both of his previous encounters against.
The 22-year-old eased past Stefanos Tsitsipas in his first round-robin match in Turin, before earning a first win over world No 1 Novak Djokovic in a three-set thriller.
The home favourite will face either Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the year-end championships on Saturday.
Speaking in his press conference following his win over Rune, Sinner was asked about what he has done to improve mentally in 2023.
“I’m working a little bit with – it’s called Formula Medicine. The boss is Riccardo Ceccarelli. He was here. He was in the box also tonight. He has been here also the match with Novak,” said the Italian.
“It is a little bit different because you don’t talk one to one, but you make certain – how you say – on the computer you make exercises and they calculate how much of your brain you used and everything, then they help you to make it as automatic as possible with using less time and less brain.
“It’s a little bit different because you see the mental coaches that you talk one to one and you try to find a solution. This is a little bit different because you are working on these things and you have to understand what happened and why and everything.
“We are working with him already some years now. I feel that I have improved. Obviously stepping on the court, it is a little bit different still. But I think we are making a good progress.”
The world No 4 addressed the physical issue he felt in the second set and also suggested claiming a first win over his young rival was significant.
“Yeah, was in the second set a little bit, but it went away. That one motion I made, I felt a little, little click. It went away. It’s all good with my body. It was important for me to reset after this good win against Novak, starting from zero again, being ready for a tough fight against Holger,” explained Sinner.
“I never won against him. It’s nice that I won at least once against him. He’s an incredible player, serving really good. I started off really well. From the second set he served better. It was obviously much, much tougher to break him. I think it was a good win, positive win. Let’s see what’s coming on Saturday.”
READ MORE: Greg Rusedski makes big Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune prediction
