‘I’m A Better Player Than Last Year’

After defending his ATP Finals title in Turin, World No. 2 Jannik Sinner said he’s playing at a higher level now than he did in 2024.

The four-time Grand Slam champion won the season-ending championship on Sunday by beating rival and World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4), 7-5 in the final.

Chants of ‘Ole, Ole, Ole, Sinner, Sinner’ rang around the Inalpi Arena, as the 24-year-old capped his impressive year with a second consecutive ATP Finals title without dropping a set.

“Honestly, I don’t want to compare [years]. It’s an amazing season,” Sinner said.

“Last year has been an amazing season. This year making four Grand Slam finals, coming here, winning here, having this big streak in end of the year, it’s amazing.

“But mostly I feel I am a better player than last year, I think this is the most important. It’s all part of the process. I always say and believe that if you keep working and trying to be a better player, the results, they’re going to come. This year it was like this.”

Sunday’s ATP Finals title followed the 2025 Australian Open and Wimbledon title triumphs for Sinner, who will end the year as World No. 2.

Despite missing three months of the season after winning at the Melbourne major, Sinner claimed six titles and earned a 58-6 match record. The Italian has 24 career titles, the same number as his Spanish counterpart Alcaraz.

“Many, many wins, and not many losses. All the losses I had, I tried to see the positive thing and trying to evolve me as a player,” Sinner added. “I feel like or I felt like this happened in a very good way. I’m extremely happy with the season.”

Finishing the season in front of his home crowd was the cherry on the cake for the Italian, who won just two of his six meetings with Alcaraz this season.

Despite their on-court rivalry, the world’s top two players share a “good harmony”, said Sinner.

“We have a very good relationship, rivalry. I feel like we can talk about everything still. I think it’s great,” he said.

“We are good friends off the court. We do respect us in a very healthy way. Also the teams, my team, get along very well with them,” added Sinner.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/manasipathak-1/2025/11/17/im-a-better-player-than-last-year-says-sinner-after-turin-triumph/