Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner have been two of the most successful players of the decade, winning several Grand Slam titles and holding the world number one ranking.
Serbian star Djokovic has won more Major titles than any other player since 2020 (8), continuing to show his class during the latter stages of his career.
However, as Djokovic’s rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal retired from tennis, the next generation of stars has begun to challenge the 24-time Major champion.
One such star is Sinner, who has won three of the past five Grand Slam titles and has been ranked number one in the world for 49 consecutive weeks.
Sinner’s dominance over his ATP Tour rivals has led some to predict he will break some of Djokovic’s seemingly untouchable records.
Both players have achieved great success during their careers thanks to their huge hitting on both the forehand and backhand side, but which of the pair hits the ball harder?
Who better to answer that question than the man who coached them both, Riccardo Piatti.
Riccardo Piatti says Jannik Sinner hits the ball harder than Novak Djokovic
Appearing on the Tennis Channel, Piatti gave his verdict as to who hits harder out of Djokovic and Sinner.
“I was thinking that if Novak [Djokovic] can win 25 Grand Slams, we need to find someone that plays better than him,” he said.
“I think Jannik [Sinner] hits the ball harder than Novak, but they have similar styles.”
Piatti then looked back on his first impressions of Sinner, a player he coached between the ages of 13 and 20.
“I started quite early when he was 13 years old. I saw him one year before in a tournament, of course with the red hair, he lost 6-1, 6-1, but I liked the way that he played,” he said.
“Then one day, he came into my centre, and then I remembered the kid I saw one year before.
“When I saw him, I liked the way he moved on the court, the positioning on the court, the movement of the feet.”
Helping mould Sinner into the player he is today, Piatti coached the now-world number one to five ATP titles.
Piatti and Sinner won their biggest title together in Washington four years ago, taking down Mackenzie McDonald in the final to secure a maiden victory at the ATP 500 level.
The pair parted ways in February 2022, before Sinner added Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill to his team.
Piatti still speaks fondly of Sinner and has now shared his thoughts on the Italian’s ‘unlucky’ three-month suspension.
Riccardo Piatti thinks Jannik Sinner’s ‘unlucky’ suspension could ‘help him’ for the rest of the season
23-year-old Sinner was suspended for three months following his Australian Open triumph in January, which saw him miss the first four Masters 1000 events of the year.
Returning in Rome for his home Italian Open, Sinner looks to have picked up right where he left off, as Piatti now explains how the ban may have benefited his former pupil.
“I think, you know, what happened was unlucky,” he said.
“But for sure he took the opportunity to practise and build his physical [strength], because when I was working with him, he didn’t finish developing his body, now he’s 24 years old [actually 23], he can work very well.
“He has a very good team, with Darren [Cahill] and [Simone] Vagnozzi, and now [Marco] Panichi is a very good fitness trainer.
“I think Rome can help [him] find the confidence back, and then this period can help him for all the rest of the season.
“I think he can be fresh for Paris, for Wimbledon, and for the US Open.”
The three-time Major champion certainly looked ‘fresh’ in his most recent outing, as Sinner dismantled Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1, on his way to the Italian Open last four.
Sinner will certainly look to carry that momentum forward when he returns to the court for his semi-final match.
The Italian will take on Tommy Paul for a place in the Italian Open final on Friday, May 16.
