Is Sinner the best returner since Djokovic?
- Thread starter tex123
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GhostOfNKDM
Hall of Fame
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
The serve took a while, but he is getting the hang of it now.
The return is rock solid, but now he is using to his advantage more. Someone in his team, either Vagnozzi or Cahill, realized that with his heavy groundstrokes are more potent when returning than after his (at times) still shaky serve. It was a good call, because he is a prodigy on the return.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
We've been saying for years now that he'd be at the top of the game if he could only hold serve more often. Sinner has always been the odd one out in his gen with his return game actually being stronger than his serve.
RoS is Tsitsipas' biggest liability by far. Zverev & Medvedev have pretty good returns, but are still dwarfed by their huge serves. Unsurprisingly it's the biggest issue for fellow big guys like Hurkacz and Fritz. Would be for Berrettini too, but that award goes to his backhand. FAA is getting better, but most of his career has relied too much on tiebreaks. Shapo gets completely abused on return.
Maybe Rublev is the only other one you could argue has a better return than serve, but it's not as good as Sinner's with that flexible wingspan he has.
RoS is Tsitsipas' biggest liability by far. Zverev & Medvedev have pretty good returns, but are still dwarfed by their huge serves. Unsurprisingly it's the biggest issue for fellow big guys like Hurkacz and Fritz. Would be for Berrettini too, but that award goes to his backhand. FAA is getting better, but most of his career has relied too much on tiebreaks. Shapo gets completely abused on return.
Maybe Rublev is the only other one you could argue has a better return than serve, but it's not as good as Sinner's with that flexible wingspan he has.
RS
Bionic Poster
Murray turned pro a year later so I just counted it. I knew it was a bit cheeky but still.
I think Tsits boat has sailed. He will be one of the lost gens.
prosperned
Professional
He was very good. But let’s see him against Djoko who’s got a brain and placement
When he switched to platform, he seemed so awkward. A bit like when Tsonga switched to platform. Sinner looks pretty good now and his serve was on the money.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
He has a great BH and so, he can return well on both wings unlike many of his peers. I’ve seen Zverev return very well too, but he is more streaky.
To be fair to Alcaraz, his game is not quite there on grass. So, I don't see why people were being hard on him. He could've played the first set better but Sinner was playing lights out.
Djokovic is a huge challenge I agree.
Tennfan123
Legend
Nishikori
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Some may say this is splitting hairs, but the fact remains Murray is still a better returner than Sinner. Murray at his peak was second only to Novak in ROS in the 2000's, even in his declined, one-hip state, he's equal if not better than Sinner on ROS on grass. Even with his declined mobility and speed.
I was impressed with Sinner's level against Alcaraz, but consider the opponent. I also thought his post-match presser on court was very classy. Sinner will get utterly destroyed by Djokovic if they meet.
Isner was Sinner's previous casualty. He tamed his serve too.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
What? First time I've heard anyone saying he's a great returner. Djokovic's return is among the very best in history. Sinner hasn't shown the numbers to be compared to him.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
No, but against Novak, it will be a real test. Someone (Cahill?) has taught Jannik how exploit his natural power on the return, and it is paying huge dividends.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Nadal and Schwartzman are high on the list in terms of all-time career returning stats. Sinner is nowhere close to that, but he has good potential to become a great returner as he is strong on both wings and seems to calibrate the ‘Acceptable’ risk level well when making returns - be aggressive without missing too many returns.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Of course Murray is better than Sinner. Today. But check out Sinner's match against Isner, if you don't believe he has upped his return game.
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Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Yes, you have to have the first match where you played better than before. Only then can the stats follow.
I would not say he was a great returner over all of 2022, and definitely not in 2021, but this tournament he has been much improved.
He's only 20. Djokovic is 35. Watch his matches against Isner and Alcaraz. His returns were devastating.
ForehandCross
G.O.A.T.
There's a guy called Medvedev. You know he is pretty good.
Indeed. Here are the stats. That's not easy against someone like Isner who blew Murray off the court in his previous match.
SIN 3-0 ISN | Jannik Sinner - John Isner
www.flashscore.com
His serve is already top tier if you haven't noticed. You may be thinking a very young Sinner with pin point stance. He is a very good platform server now.
RaulRamirez
Legend
Murray is one week older than Djok, so not in the running.
And "since Djokovic", to me, implies not as good as Djo...
I think it's too early for Sinner to be ahead of guys like, well, Diego (amazing, considering his small stature) and a couple others mentioned, but all the tools are there in this department for Diego.
Most of the great returners have had rock-steady backhands: Connors, Agassi, Novak and Murray. Sinner has that potential.
And "since Djokovic", to me, implies not as good as Djo...
I think it's too early for Sinner to be ahead of guys like, well, Diego (amazing, considering his small stature) and a couple others mentioned, but all the tools are there in this department for Diego.
Most of the great returners have had rock-steady backhands: Connors, Agassi, Novak and Murray. Sinner has that potential.
dking68
Legend
Oh does he? You think Alcaraz would’ve beaten Isner in 3 convincing sets like Sinner did? Only one of them had a tiebreak. If he has such a great return, why was he unable to beat Berrettini on a fast hard court in AO 2022? And Berrettini isn’t as good a server as Isner
Genious at Work
G.O.A.T.
This. Alcaraz ROS is magnificent. Let's not judge players by a single match performance.
Rovesciarete
Hall of Fame
Few are better, likely including Alcaraz.
I think he might become a better aggressive returner tough.
I think he might become a better aggressive returner tough.
That's what Djokovic does best - aggressive deep returns. He's looking to make something happen with his returns. None of Schwartzmanns or Murrays or Delpos or anyone that has been mentioned manage to put opponent on the backfoot with the returns in the way Djokovic does. Sinner replicates that style.
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