Jannik Sinner collects year-end ATP trophy

TURIN – Jannik Sinner spent his first rest day at the ATP Finals in Turin on Nov 11 collecting the trophy for finishing the year ranked the No. 1 tennis player in the world.

The 23-year-old, who won the Australian and US Opens this campaign, entered the season-ending event already assured of becoming the first Italian to top the ATP end-of-year rankings.

“It’s a very special occasion to share that here in Italy,” he said, while also calling himself “very lucky” for having the best people with him.

“I would like to thank you for the support around the world, to thank my team. Without the people who are close to me, who understand me as a person, who I am, it would be very difficult.

“I just heard that my mum was crying, which is something very cute. Only they know from my early age and stages, when I was around 13, how many sacrifices we made as a family.

“Now I’m standing here with one of the, maybe the most special trophy I have.”

Hs is the 19th player to earn year-end No. 1 honours, according to the ATP website, and also just the fourth active player to do so. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are the others.

“It’s a great competition between this and Grand Slams,” Sinner added. “This is a very consistent trophy. You have to play one year very consistent tennis, so this is for sure a very, very tough trophy to get.”

His season, however, has not been smooth sailing. He has been dogged by controversy after he twice tested positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March.

He was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency but at the end of September, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) appealed against the decision, seeking a ban of up to two years.

The Italian, who won his first match at the ATP Finals on Nov 10 against Australian Alex de Minaur, succeeds Serbia’s Djokovic, who finished the year as world No. 1 a record eight times.

Boris Becker, who spent over 220 days at No. 1 in 1991 but never ended a year on top, attended the presentation.

He said that while “there are certainly Carlos Alcaraz and others, Jannik is going to be world No.1 for a long time”.

“Honestly, not really surprised. I know him now for many years and he was always talented, but what stood out was his determination,” Becker added.

“He always put everything on the line for tennis. He was living and breathing tennis, left his home at 13 to become the best tennis player he can be.

“The consistency he has (at) only 23 years of age is remarkable. He always has a level, he never goes under that level and again, I’m not surprised. I think he’s the man to beat for a long time.”

Sinner was in action on Nov 12 against American Taylor Fritz, with their clash starting after press time. AFP