Roger Federer’s former coach highlights key difference between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have enjoyed contrasting career paths and Roger Federer’s former coach Ivan Ljubicic has explained why the Italian is starting to fulfill his promise.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz were tipped for stardom from a young age, but the latter steamrolled his way to the top as he burst onto the ATP Tour scene in 2022 and dominated, winning the US Open and finishing the year as the world No 1.
Meanwhile, Sinner’s route has been about steady progress as he came into his own during the latter half of the 2023 season.
The Italian won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open and also defeated both world No 1s in Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic during the final few months of the season.
Sinner finished at No 4 in the rankings and Ljubicic – who worked with the great Federer from 2016 until his retirement in 2022 – believes the rising star had to take key steps in order to get closer to his goal.
“Jannik is not like Alcaraz, who went from 40 to 1, he needs his steps,” he told Tuttosport. “I think what he has done in the last two months, the confirmation of relentless work, has brought him closer to the goal.
“He needed certain experiences to feel comfortable in the path. At the end of 2022 I had said I was sorry that Jannik had not played important matches against the big boys. Now he has nothing more to learn. He has a perfect attitude on and off the court, in interviews he is not afraid to talk about his limitations and more.”
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Sinner also reached the semi-final of a Grand Slam for the first time this year as he made it to the last four at Wimbledon while he finished runner-up to Djokovic at the ATP Finals.
He then steered Italy to their first Davis Cup title since 1976 and many believe his next step is a Grand Slam.
Asked about the world No 4’s chances of winning a Grand Slam in 2024, Ljubicic replied: “Having won Davis Cup allows him to go into Australia with real hope. And he has beaten all the top 10.
“We will see him in Slam management: when you have a day if you feel the pressure, if you think a lot – and he is very reflective – you can have some more problems.
“He is surrounded by a staff of very capable people, though. His strength is character. He never goes off the deep end and is not content. When I got to No 3 I thought I had reached the top and began my downward trajectory.”
