Jannik Sinner closed another exceptional season. The Italian solidified an almost unbeatable version of himself. He finished the year with only six losses, and his dominance became visibly stronger. Many opponents publicly acknowledged the impact of his physical and technical evolution, including Francisco Cerúndolo. The Argentine described in detail the challenge of facing the number one, and his analysis reflected both frustration and genuine admiration.
During the UTS Tour, Cerúndolo spoke with Tennis365. He recalled his recent matches against Sinner and compared him to the player he faced in 2022 and 2023. He highlighted a clear difference. “In 2023, he was like number 5 or 6 in the world, and now, obviously, he is number 1 or 2, so it’s very different. He had no weaknesses, no holes,” said Cerúndolo. This statement summarizes the main problem for his opponents: Sinner offers no clear weak points.
The physical and mental transformation of the Italian
According to Firstsportz, Cerúndolo faced Sinner twice this season in challenging matches. He acknowledged that in Rome the match was close for long stretches. However, the difference appeared in critical rallies. He explained that the Italian executes with superior speed and hits the ball with immense power. Cerúndolo admitted that he often had no time to react, a feeling that completely overwhelmed him during the Paris Masters.
Allenamento fra campioni a Dubai 🤩
📹 In campo due degli allievi di maggior successo di Darren Cahill, Jannik Sinner e Simona Halep. Proprio l’australiano ha pubblicato un video dell’allenamento sul suo profilo Instagram: «Una coppia di campioni», ha scritto, accompagnando lo… pic.twitter.com/P2QV8Fdl2t— SuperTennis TV (@SuperTennisTv) December 11, 2025
The Argentine detailed his confusion: “He’s always there. His serve is incredible, his return is incredible, and then, with points at the baseline, he hits the ball so hard, and you don’t have time. I didn’t know what to do in Paris,” he added. This statement reflects the accumulated frustration among many tour players. Currently, very few can maintain a high-intensity pace against Sinner over multiple sets.
Cerúndolo also pointed out that Sinner’s physical strength changed the equation. He remembered that two years ago he could wear him down in long rallies. At that time, Sinner showed some fatigue in extended exchanges, but that scenario no longer exists. “He has improved a lot. Two years ago, maybe physically he wasn’t as good, and if you played long matches and long points, he missed some balls. Now he’s not missing anything,” Cerúndolo commented.
The world No. 21 believes that beating Sinner or Alcaraz requires perfect play, as both force opponents to execute without margin for error. He also noted that an opponent must have an off day to have a real chance. Cerúndolo reached only one final this year, at the Argentina Open, but lost to João Fonseca. Still, he remains eager to compete again against the best, knowing that the challenge is extreme but that these battles push him to raise his level.
