The best start to the 2024 season belongs to none other than Jannik Sinner. Being the champion of the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Miami means the Italian arrives at the Mutua Madrid Open as the top seed.

It is “a pleasure” for the ATP No.2 to be top of the pile, but “nothing changes as I’m here trying to understand my clay game better because it’s a little bit different than all other tournaments since we’re at altitude”.

Sinner is delighted to “be back here. I didn’t play last year, so I’m even happier to be in Madrid”, and he’s keen to “play some good tennis” in the Caja Mágica, having reached the semi-finals in Monte Carlo.

The 22-year-old player is gearing up for his third participation in the Masters 1000 in the Spanish capital. He will take to the court for his opener on Saturday with his third-round finish in 2022 as his current best in the Spanish capital.

Asked at Media Day if he feels he’s currently the most in-form player on tour, he trod carefully. “I cannot compare myself with Djokovic. I have a lot of respect for him, and also for Alcaraz. I just try to play my game”, he said of the champion of the last two editions in Madrid.

Another hero for the fans in Madrid is Rafa Nadal. The champion of two Masters 1000s spoke about his first memories of the great Spaniard: “When I was 14-15, I went to Rome and I saw him practise for the first time in real life. I admired his intensity and the passion he has”.

Another giant of Spanish tennis, Garbiñe Muguruza, who recently announced her retirement, also came up in conversation. “Muguruza was one of the best women’s tennis players. I saw her when she won Wimbledon and now we all know that she was injured”, concluded Sinner.