Gill Gross argues Sinner’s progress hinges on adding variety without losing identity

A tennis analyst commented on Jannik Sinner’s recent remarks about making his game more unpredictable.

The 24-year-old Italian said after the US Open that he wants to “become more unpredictable, even if it means losing a few more matches in the short term.” His comments, made in a post-tournament interview, sparked discussion among experts and fans about the balance between variety and identity in his game.

Gill Gross addressed the topic on his Monday Match Analysis podcast in response to a viewer question. The fan asked whether Sinner should really pursue unpredictability, or if doing so could weaken his core strengths.

“I don’t want to be the guy saying Sinner shouldn’t work on his variety. Of course he should add new options — drop shots, volleys, short angles. But what he shouldn’t do is panic and start doubting his identity. His core game is strong, it’s already bringing results, and that’s what he needs to keep leaning on,” said the tennis expert.

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Gross pointed out that, according to data from Tennis Insights, Sinner leads the ATP Tour in the percentage of “core shots” from the baseline, showing enormous room to expand his repertoire. He noted that the Italian’s first steps toward variety already helped him rise from “a solid top-10 player to a world-beater” in 2023, highlighted by wins over Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

In Gross’s view, the key is to introduce new finishing options without questioning his fundamentals.

“If Jannik starts thinking that his core strengths aren’t enough against Alcaraz, that could be the start of psychological cracks. But if he trusts his identity while expanding his arsenal, it will only make him more dangerous,” Gross emphasized.

Sinner recently lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final and slipped to No. 2 in the ATP rankings. He remains one of the main contenders for the year-end title and Alcaraz’s closest rival in the fight for dominance on the men’s tour.