“The ATP Finals and Davis Cup are important events,and I’m sure for Sinner or some of the younger guys that helps with their belief when they go up on tour against them.
Marin Cilic celebrates his win over Andy Murray at Kooyong.Credit:Getty Images.
“But I know that when the Australian Open rolls round,it’s not going to be easy for those guys to win against Novak in a huge match.
“Some are trying to win a major for the very first time. It’s not easy when you’re trying to win your first and you’re playing against a guy who’s won 24 times and 10 times here. It’s a very different mentality.”
Sinner’s game is deceptively powerful. When he at last pinned down Polmans on Wednesday,he made it a quick kill. This is an exhibition event,and he put on a show.
Sinner said he had grown stronger in the off-season,trading some time on the court for more in the gym. His diet,serve and slice all had improved. All of the old guard have cleared out exceptDjokovic,who has a slight wrist injury. At 22,the world is Sinner’s oyster (a protected species).
Sinner is all too conscious that as much as he is the hunter,he is also becoming the hunted. He notes that the time is now for the generation of Daniil Medvedev,Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. He reels off the names of all the pretenders:himself,Carlos Alcaraz,Holger Rune,Karen Khachanov,Ben Shelton and Andrey Rublev.
Sinner drills another forehand at Kooyong.Credit:Getty Images
“All of us play different tennis. We are all talented,obviously,and we all want to show who is best right now,” he said. “I’m really happy to be in the mix with these players,trying to survive and also to show what I’m capable of.”
Murray’s peers are nearly all retired,but 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic soldiers on,and the pair slugged it out like it was the good old days on Wednesday before Cilic prevailed 6-3,7-5.
Murray’s 2024 ambitions are modest,but earnest.
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“I hope that I do better than last year,” he said. “I didn’t feel like I actually played well last year. I certainly lost a number of matches I could have won. Hopefully with a few improvements I can certainly challenge the top players.”
Murray at the Australian Open has a laugh-or-cry record. He’s made five finals for five defeats,one by Roger Federer and four by Djokovic.
“I’ve had great moments here,” he said. “I’ve played some of my best tennis here over the years. I would have liked to have played someone different in those finals,but it wasn’t to be.”
In a top-15 clash,Rune defeated Khachanov 6-4,7-5,while China’s Zhang Zhizhen upset American world No.17 Frances Tiafoe 6-3,7-5.
Watch all the Australian Open action live on Nine,9Now and Stan from Sunday,January 14.