Richard Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, believes Jannik Sinner is tougher to beat than Pete Sampras ever was.
Sampras had a legendary career with seven Wimbledon wins, five US Opens, and two Australian Open titles. He once held the record for most Grand Slam victories until Roger Federer surpassed him in 2009.
Known for his powerful serve and volley game, Sampras dominated on Wimbledon’s fast courts in the ’90s.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| it Jannik Sinner | 23 | 15,405 | 33 - 3 |
Comparing Tennis Styles:
Sinner’s approach is different; he focuses on strong baseline play and consistent hitting. At the ATP Finals, an interview with Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showed just how distinct Sinner’s style is from Sampras’. When asked about which shot he wouldn’t take from Sinner, Alcaraz pointed out his rival’s volley.
Though Sinner’s volley isn’t his best asset, his speed makes it hard to bring him up to the net. Alcaraz uses a great drop shot to challenge this aspect of Sinner’s game. Fans might wonder if anyone else can figure out how to crack this code.
Adriano Panatta even mentioned that watching Sinner play can be dull because opponents struggle to find ways to defeat him. Krajicek argues that tennis today has evolved beyond what was seen in the ’90s.
In a chat with Super Tennis TV, Krajicek explained that while even legends like Sampras had weaknesses—such as his backhand—Sinner seems flawless now.
Krajicek reflected: “Beating Sinner today is more difficult than beating Sampras when I was playing.” He continued by noting that every player has become more complete and agile over time.
Players today enjoy longer careers with better support teams compared to those in Krajicek’s era. He expressed relief at having competed during a time when tennis wasn’t as advanced as it is now.
He shared: “They all manage themselves differently… I’m happy to have played in the 90s.”
Looking ahead, there’s hope that stars like Sinner and Alcaraz will continue elevating tennis standards and attracting fresh fans into the sport. What do you think about these changes?
