Jannik Sinner is progressing steadily through Wimbledon’s draw, having not lost a set in his first three matches. With a commanding performance at the All England Club this year, the Italian has drawn praise from American player Alex Michelsen, who described Sinner’s left-foot sliding backhand as
“one of the most outrageous things in sports.”
Michelsen Reflects on His Matches Against Sinner and Remarkable Footwork
Alex Michelsen recently shared his impressions of Sinner’s unique sliding backhand during the Changeover Podcast. He highlighted how extraordinary it is to see Sinner glide on the grass court with such agility and precision.
“That’s outrageous. It’s one of the most outrageous things in sports, honestly, his left foot slide. On grass, too. He’s sliding to the next zip code. It’s like, what’s going on?”
Michelsen said.
Michelsen recalled facing Sinner twice during 2024, at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, losing both matches in straight sets. The scores were 6-4, 7-5 in Cincinnati and 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 at the US Open. He described Sinner’s backhand movement as deceptive and difficult to counter, explaining how it left him unable to effectively break Sinner’s serve during their encounters.
“You approach his backhand, and the guy is just sliding open stance, passing you line, and you’re like, well, sh–.”
Michelsen added, reflecting on how those matches tested his mental and physical endurance.
“In Cincy, I played him tight, it was like four and five, I went zero for nine on break points, I remember, and he aced me on a bunch of them. I served out of my a– that day, just to be able to stay in the match.”
On the broader challenge posed by elite baseline players like Sinner, Michelsen stated,
I feel like against Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz, if you let them control from the baseline, you’re screwed.
—Alex Michelsen, American ATP player
Jannik Sinner’s Unstoppable Run Through Wimbledon
Sinner has demonstrated remarkable dominance at Wimbledon 2024, starting with a straight-sets victory over fellow Italian Luca Nardi. He followed that with an even more commanding win against Aleksandar Vukic, surrendering just five games in three sets. His third-round opponent Pedro Martinez showed signs of injury, which Sinner capitalized on to progress comfortably to the round of 16.
To date, Sinner has conceded only 17 games en route to the last 16, setting a new Open Era record at Wimbledon by surpassing Roger Federer’s tally of 19 games lost in 2004. This defensive resilience, combined with his aggressive shotmaking, has helped him remain unbeaten in sets so far.
Next up for Sinner is Grigor Dimitrov, a player he has beaten in their last four meetings, though the two have never faced each other on grass. This matchup will test Sinner’s ability to maintain his exceptional form against a capable seeded opponent as he bids to advance further in the championships.
The Significance of Sinner’s Technique and Upcoming Challenge
Alex Michelsen’s admiration for Sinner’s sliding backhand highlights the Italian’s innovative style and athleticism, setting him apart in a sport often dominated by power and precision. Sinner’s effectiveness on grass, especially with such a rare footwork approach, suggests he could continue to be a formidable contender this season.
As Sinner faces Dimitrov and potentially deeper rounds at Wimbledon, his performance will be closely watched for signs of whether he can extend his record-breaking campaign and add a Grand Slam title to his growing list of achievements.