Jannik Sinner expressed his enthusiasm for the “new generation” taking charge in men’s tennis, following the world No. 1 and Carlos Alcaraz sharing all the Grand Slam titles this season. He cautioned Novak Djokovic and others that he will continue to get better.
The 23-year-old Australian Open champion secured the hardcourt double by defeating Taylor Fritz to claim the US Open title.
After Carlos Alcaraz, 21, won both the French Open and Wimbledon, this marks the first time since 1993 that all four Grand Slam titles in a single year have been captured by players aged 23 or younger.
Additionally, this is the first tennis season since 2002 without a Grand Slam title won by any of the Big Three—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer.
“It’s definitely a bit different,” Sinner remarked. “It’s a fresh change. It’s great for the sport to witness new champions and rivalries. I feel like our new generation motivates each other to improve.”
“I will always have opponents who challenge me and help me improve as a player, especially since there will be moments when they defeat me. It’s important to figure out how to win against specific players. I believe having new champions is beneficial for the sport.”
Since his victory in Melbourne in January, Sinner has now triumphed in all six finals this season, making him the youngest man to claim both hardcourt Grand Slam titles in a single year.
He is also only the third man in the Open Era—following Jimmy Connors in 1974 and Guillermo Vilas in 1977—to secure his first two Grand Slam titles in the same year.
The Italian emphasized that he is committed to improving. “Today, it was clear that not everything was perfect,” he noted. “I could have served a bit better, but this realization reinforces that the work is never done.”
“It’s always a continuous effort. Ultimately, if you want to improve as a player, you must consistently work hard and maintain daily routines while accepting the challenges that come on the court.
“The work never ceases. You have to figure out how to enhance your performance against specific opponents and develop particular shots.
“I spent a lot of time in the gym because I recognized that I still need to improve physically, and there’s much more work to be done. These sacrifices are all part of preparing for a successful future. So, we will keep pushing forward.
“I understand that I’m not perfect and never will be, but I strive to evolve my game. After my career, I want to be able to say, ‘I did everything possible to reach my full potential.’”
In his courtside interview following his straight-sets victory over Fritz, Sinner acknowledged, “The past month has been very challenging because you all know what I went through.”
The world No. 1 was permitted to compete in New York after a tribunal determined that his two positive tests from March were a result of a massage from his former physiotherapist.
Many current and former players expressed skepticism about the process, with Nick Kyrgios calling the ruling “ridiculous.”
When asked how the tennis community might respond to his second Grand Slam title, the Italian said, “I can’t say for sure. You would need to ask the other players. What I can mention is that the overall reaction from players was quite positive, even when the news broke.
“Of course, there have been some differing opinions, but that happens everywhere—not just in tennis, but in other sports and professions as well. There’s not much you can do about that.
“That’s why it’s important to have people close to you—those who understand what was happening and what my team and I experienced, as it wasn’t just me; it was a whole situation. I can only speak from my perspective and my team’s, and we are all very proud of this accomplishment.”
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