Jannik Sinner will practice exclusively with 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal during the pre-Australian Open quarantine. Players will arrive in Melbourne and will stay in a two-week quarantine.
Two players and their coaches will train for a couple of hours every day. Players will only be allowed to train with one other person during the first week of quarantine ahead of the Australian Open.
During the second week they are allowed to double the size of their practice team. Nadal and Sinner will be able to train with Diego Schwartzman and Stan Wawrinka.
Nadal and Sinner had already trained together in Melbourne last year ahead of the 2020 Australian Open. Sinner made his debut at the Melbourne tournament.
Nadal beat Sinner 7-6 6-4 6-1 in the quarter finals at last October’s Roland Garros after a hard-fought battle in the first two sets. The match was held under a closed roof of Phillippe Chatrier and lasted until 1.30 am. Sinner became the youngest quarter finalist in the French Open since Nadal.
Sinner’s coach Riccardo Piatti thinks that this will be a great opportunity for Sinner to learn from Nadal.
“We have already agreed. His name is Rafael Nadal. In the first week we agreed with Carlos Moya and Rafa. In the second week, when each player can join another, we made an agreement with Wawrinka and Schwartzman. I believe that for Sinner being able to see and experience in his turn the preparation of a Grand Slam made by someone who has won 20, is a fundamental experience. Jannik will start his next season in Antalya at a new ATP 250 tournament. He will also take part in another ATP 250 tournament at Melbourne Park before the Australian Open. Training with world number 2 can lead to a turnaround for his entire season ahead. Jannik has been training very hard for five weeks. He will be followed by Andrea Volpini and Dalibor Sirola in Antalya. I will join him in Melbourne”, said Riccardo Piatti to Supertennis.it
