Jannik Sinner not only secured his place in the third round of Wimbledon, but also rewrote the annals of Italian tennis by surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli's all-time mark for Grand Slam victories. The world number one defeated Nuno Borges at the All England Club, achieving his 95th victory in major tournaments. This milestone places him as the winningest Italian tennis player in history in the top category, displacing Pietrangeli from the podium.
With this triumph, Sinner is just five wins away from reaching the magic number of 100 Grand Slam wins, a milestone that seems to be within reach given his current performance on the London grass. The feat underlines the dominance that the Italian has recently exerted on the circuit, cementing his legacy beyond individual titles. Overcoming a legend like Pietrangeli is not a minor detail; It is a statement of intent about his place in the history of sport in his country.
The atmosphere at the All England Club reflects the confidence of a player who knows that every game is an opportunity to expand his legend. The comparison with Pietrangeli is inevitable but reveals the evolution of the game. While the historic Milanese forged his legacy mainly on the clay of Roland Garros, Sinner demonstrates balanced lethality on all surfaces.
Achieving this figure at Wimbledon, the temple of grass, proves that the Italian from San Candido has tamed the fastest and most treacherous conditions on the circuit, something that distinguishes the great multi-discipline champions from the single-court specialists. Beyond the statistics, the weight of being number one in the world is felt in every serve and every forehand. Sinner is not accumulating victories through inertia, but rather imposing a pace that few rivals can sustain.
The barrier of 100 major wins acts as a psychological filter: only tennis immortals cross it. If he maintains this intensity, the Italian will not only get closer to that round number in London, but he will send a strong message to the rest of the team about the longevity of his reign. Looking ahead to the next round, Sinner needs five more wins to retain his Wimbledon title and simultaneously celebrate his 100th Grand Slam victory.
The path to glory in London has been laid out, and the Italian seems determined not to miss the opportunity to make history once again. Sinner's progression at Wimbledon 2024 is not an accident, but the result of methodical work. After a 2023 season marked by injuries and ups and downs, the Italian adjusted his physical and technical preparation during the winter, incorporating variants in his backhand and improving his mobility at the net.
These changes, visible in his game during the tournament, have allowed him to neutralize rivals who previously surpassed him on fast surfaces. The consistency in his serve – with a first serve that exceeds 65% effectiveness at this Wimbledon – and his ability to convert break points at key moments have been decisive. This Wimbledon also marks a turning point in his relationship with the press.
Sinner has reduced his media appearances, focusing on performance over noise. The strategy seems to give results: while other favorites like Alcaraz or Djokovic face criticism for their physical form or results, the Italian advances with the coolness of someone who knows that time is in his favor. His mentality, forged in the losses of 2023, now translates into a mental toughness that few can match.
The question floating in the air is not whether Sinner will reach 100 major wins, but how long it will take to do so. On a circuit where longevity is a luxury, the Italian is showing that consistency is no coincidence. If he maintains this level, he could add that figure before the end of 2024, consolidating his name among the greats of the modern era.
With the third round within reach, Sinner faces an even greater challenge: proving that his game is not seasonal. The history of tennis is full of players who shined in a tournament or a season, but few manage to maintain excellence for years. The Italian, however, seems determined to write a new narrative, one where records are not ephemeral, but the beginning of a legend. Read at Marca Tenis
Why this matters
Sinner's achievement transcends one more victory in a Grand Slam draw; represents a definitive changing of the guard in Italian tennis. By surpassing Nicola Pietrangeli, an icon of the '60s, Sinner shows that his impact is historic and not fleeting. His ability to maintain this level at Wimbledon, while chasing the barrier of 100 major wins, solidifies him not only as the best player in Italy today, but as a central figure of modern global tennis. This streak redefines expectations for his career and raises the standard of the sport in his country. Furthermore, his tactical and mental evolution in 2024 marks a before and after in his career, confirming that his dominance is not temporary, but the result of a profound transformation.
Frequently asked
What record did Jannik Sinner break at Wimbledon?
Sinner became the Italian with the most Grand Slam victories when he reached 95, surpassing the record held by Nicola Pietrangeli.
Who did Sinner beat to achieve this milestone?
The Italian defeated Nuno Borges at the All England Club, ensuring his place in the third round of the tournament and adding the historic victory.
How many wins does Sinner need to reach 100 Grand Slam wins?
He is missing exactly five victories. If he manages to retain his title at Wimbledon, he will reach the figure of 100 wins in major tournaments.
How has Sinner's game evolved in 2024?
After a 2023 season with injuries, the Italian adjusted his backhand, improved his mobility at the net and increased the effectiveness of his first serve, key to his current performance.
How important is the record of 100 Grand Slam victories?
It is a symbolic threshold that only legends like Federer, Nadal or Djokovic cross. For Sinner, it would be a definitive endorsement in the modern era of tennis.
