Jannik Sinner currently stands unrivaled as the world's in-form tennis player.

Just last month, Sinner clinched the title in Rotterdam, showcasing his tenacity with a solid 7-5, 6-4 win against Alex De Minaur. This victory extended his winning streak to 15 matches, along with securing consecutive titles, following his triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Yet, the roots of Sinner's exceptional run of form trace back even further.

His remarkable journey began at Wimbledon last year, marking the onset of a series of impressive tournament performances starting from Wimbledon 2023.

1. Wimbledon = Semi’s
2. Toronto Masters 1000 = Winner
3. Cincinnati Masters 1000 = Rd 32
4. US Open = Rd 16
5. Beijing ATP 500 = Winner
6. Shanghai Masters 1000 = Rd 16
7. Vienna  ATP 500 = Winner
8. Paris Masters 1000  = Rd 16
9. ATP Finals = Finalist
10. Davis Cup Finals = Winner
11. Australian Open = Winner
12. Rotterdam ATP 500 = Winner

Since Wimbledon, Sinner has entered 12 tournaments and triumphed in six of them. This impressive streak has catapulted him from 8th to 3rd in the world rankings. Continuing at this rate, he's rapidly approaching the top spot and could become the world's No. 1 player in the coming months. His path is clear, with minimal points to defend: just 45 points from one round at Roland Garros, no points at the Madrid Masters 1000, and 90 points for reaching the Round of 16 in Rome.

Now, let's delve into his performance stats. Since Wimbledon last year, Sinner boasts a record of 44 wins to 5 losses. That's a winning percentage of 90% - truly remarkable.

But what about the percentage of points he's won during this standout period?

You'll be interested to know that he has won 54.1% of his points, with a total of 4408 points won out of 8155.

Tennis is a sport defined by incredibly fine margins, despite the incredible number of points played. 

To start winning more often, you only need to shift a 50-50 contest slightly in your favor, to 54-46. That small change can set you apart from your competition.

Now, let's consider another angle of Sinner's extraordinary journey. Even while losing 46 out of every 100 points, he's been amassing significant winnings and bulldozing his way through the world's top 10.

Sinner has outscored his opponents by 661 points, across 134 sets. This breaks down to an average advantage of merely 5 points per set.

Reflect on your own tennis game for a moment. How could you secure those extra five points in each set you play?

Here's something to think about:

1. Force one more return error a set.
2. Quality FH approach to the BH = passing shot missed.
3. Hit more run-around forehands to own more baseline battles.
4. Force one more Serve +1 error per set. Target the big backswing on the forehand with a deep middle return.
5. Less unnecessary change of direction in the point. Force your opponent to change, and miss.

Securing an additional five points in a set might seem challenging, but it becomes much more manageable once you have a strategy in place. It's important to note that these methods for gaining a point don't necessarily involve striking winners. Instead, the focus is on identifying critical moments within a rally to apply pressure and unsettle your opponent.

Let's explore some further intriguing statistics from Sinner's impressive streak beginning at Wimbledon.

• He played seven matches where he didn’t win more points than his opponent.
• He played six matches where his points won percentage was north of 60%.
• He played nine matches where the win percentage was in the 54% bracket. The most of any percentage point.

Conclusion

As we witness Jannik Sinner's ascent to tennis excellence, his journey underscores the profound impact of slight adjustments on achieving monumental success. His strategic improvements across serving, returning, and groundstrokes highlight a broader lesson in the power of incremental change. This principle, evident in Sinner's climb through the rankings, resonates beyond tennis, reflecting a universal truth in sports and life: small shifts can lead to significant victories.

We're keen to hear your thoughts on this phenomenon. Have you observed similar instances of minor modifications leading to major triumphs in other sports or aspects of life? Share your insights and stories of subtle yet impactful changes that have led to noteworthy achievements. Join the conversation below and let's explore the ripple effects of small tweaks in the wide ocean of competitive sports.

Embrace the challenge, cherish the game, and remember, at 10is Academy, every shot is an opportunity to improve.