The third edition of the Next Gen Finals crowned Italian 18-year-old rising Jannik Sinner, who beat world number 18 Alex De Minaur in a three-set final in packed Allianz Cloud arena in Milan in front of 5400 enthusiastic fans.
“I have never had this kind of support, even on court. Off court, I am making some media. I am still young, so now it’s ok”, said Sinner during the post-match press conference.
Sinner hopes to follow in the footsteps of Hyeon Chung and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who won the first two editions of the Next Gen ATP Finals respectively in 2017 and 2018.
“Milan is a lucky venue. My coach Riccardo Piatti told me that Roger Federer won his first title in Milan in 2001 and he has now become a legend of tennis. I am happy that I won my maiden ATP title in Milan. Chung and Tsitsipas reached the semifinals at the Australian Open after winning the Next Gen finals”
Sinner started the 2019 season outside the top 500 and is now ranked world 95 at the end of a very successful season, in which he reached his first ATP Tour semifinal in Antwerp after beating top 20 player Gael Monfils and got through the qualifying round to reach his first Grand Slam Main Draw at the US Open.
“It was an incredible week. I am quite surprised about this result. Incredible players took part at this tournament. I thank the organisers for giving me the wild card. Without the wild card I would not have taken part at this event. I think I played better match after match. That’s the point and that’s the thing we were looking for. I played the first match well. Yesterday I did not start perfectly, but it was a great match, but it was a great match after. I started today very well. I am very happy about that. I have never had this kind of support, even on court. Off court, I am making some media. I am still young, so now it’s OK”.
Jannik was happy about the level he reached during the week.
“The semifinal against Miomir Kecmanovic was the hardest match. I did not start very well. I was not relaxed and I did not serve well. In the final I played very well from the beginning. I played my best match of the week against Alex De Minaur. The first game was important for my confidence. I managed to keep such a high level for the entire week and that was the most important aspect. I was competive against top 100 players for five consecutive days. This week I beat two top 50 players. I hope to keep this level during next season. I will have to get used to the conditions of Australia. It will the first time I go there”
Alex De Minaur praised the young Italian player for his attitude on and off the tennis court.
“I have seen what a genuine and humble, sort of grounded kid he is, which is great to see. Even though he has been talked about a lot. He is taking it exactly the way he should be. I don’t think he is changing. He is still the same kid that he was before all of this happened. Hopefully he can keep going and I am sure good things will follow. I wish him all the best for the next season”, said De Minaur.