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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s meteoric rise to tennis supremacy isn’t just talent—it’s strategy. The 23-year-old Italian, already a three-time Grand Slam champion, is being molded by a coaching legend who once guided Novak Djokovic during the Serb’s formative years. This mentor’s unique insight into Djokovic’s game has armed Sinner with the tools to not only challenge the 24-time major winner but dominate him, evidenced by recent victories at the 2024 Australian Open and Shanghai Masters.
With Sinner now tied 4-4 in their head-to-head rivalry, the question looms: How did this coach bridge eras to craft a new king?
The Novak Djokovic Playbook: How Riccardo Piatti crafted Jannik Sinner
The mastermind behind Sinner’s ascent is Riccardo Piatti, the Italian tactician who first shaped a teenage Djokovic in 2006 before mentoring Sinner from 2013. Piatti’s intimate knowledge of Djokovic’s strengths and vulnerabilities became the foundation for Sinner’s training.
“My goal when coaching Jannik… was to find how he could beat Djokovic,” Piatti revealed in an interview with Tennis Majors. “I watched Nole a lot. Because I worked with him, the idea was always to find someone who can beat a guy like this.”
Piatti’s strategy hinged on reverse-engineering Novak Djokovic’s game. He honed Jannik Sinner’s baseline aggression, technical precision, and mental resilience, drawing parallels between the two stars.
“Sinner, if you compare to Djokovic, has similar technique and movement, but his shots are now stronger than Nole,” Piatti asserted. “Of course, Nole is older now, but Jannik here has something more.”
Building a mentally unshakable champion
Beyond physical prowess, Riccardo Piatti instilled in Jannik Sinner the same unflappable mindset that defines Djokovic. Both thrive under pressure, turning crowd hostility or high-stakes moments into fuel.
“Mentally, they’re both very strong,” Piatti explained. “They’re clear about what they need to do. They immediately understand what’s needed, and they do it.”
This mental edge was pivotal in Sinner’s Grand Slam breakthroughs. At the 2024 Australian Open, he rallied from two sets down to stun Novak Djokovic, showcasing a calmness reminiscent of the Serb’s prime. Months later, he outlasted him again in Shanghai, proving his ability to dismantle Djokovic’s legendary endurance.
A new era, a new benchmark
Piatti’s vision extends beyond Sinner’s rivalry with Djokovic. Just as Novak Djokovic chased Federer and Nadal, Sinner now sets the standard for rising stars. “The idea is always the same,” Riccardo Piatti said. “Now it’d be to find a young player who in eight to ten years can beat Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner.”
