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FROM PAINTING THE LINES: SINNER’S TENNIS WAS BORN IN LAS VEGAS 🧢🇺🇸

Some time ago, Boris Becker called Jannik Sinner “a Djokovic 2.0”—and yes, the similarities between the two are clear, though they’re also distinct in many ways.

But that style of tennis has an even deeper origin. Sport evolves in iterations, and this one started in the late ’80s with a kid from Las Vegas of Armenian‑Assyrian descent who disrupted the whole system.

That kid was Andre Agassi. He struck the ball with a ferocity rarely seen—both forehand and two‑handed backhand—taking the ball early, suffocating opponents, and rendering obsolete the old game of touch, variation, and serve‑and‑volley.

What truly distinguished him was the huge spin he generated—allowing massive margin over the net and crushing “old‑school” players with relentless power and consistency. That meant McEnroe couldn’t outdo him in baseline rallies, and Edberg’s net forays became easier to beat.

Agassi’s game was the next evolution of what Jimmy Connors initiated—a true baseline attacker—but he added topspin, balance between wings, and superior timing.

He didn’t just hit differently—he looked different, too. Denim shorts, neon jerseys, basketball‑inspired sneakers, long rockstar hair. He turned into a pop icon who pulled people in who didn’t even watch tennis.

Coming from Nick Bollettieri’s Academy, his game became the template: hard-hitting baseline play, two-handed backhands, minimal net play. That model spread—teens across tennis academies began adopting it.

Today, it’s the DNA we see in Sinner—and certainly in Djokovic, who used it to win 24 Slams during the Federer-Nadal era.

Sure, this is a simplification. Equipment, fitness, and player size have also evolved dramatically. But Agassi stands as a crucial turning point—the anchor of a transformation that led tennis to what it is now.

This content was inspired by an episode of SLICE podcast by Emanuele Ricciardi—titled “Il tennis di Sinner esiste grazie a lui”. If you speak Italian, I highly recommend listening (or watching with subtitles).

Let me know your thoughts—feel free to drop your take in the comments on Instagram.

LINES THAT HIT 💬

TOP PICKS 🔗

• Carlos Alcaraz: an exclusive interview - Financial Times

• Jannik Sinner’s unconventional trick on his forehand could be the secret to his success - Tennis365

• Agassi analyses Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic: Who moves 'like a flying saucer'? - ATP Tour

CAPTURED 📸

Victoria Mboko keeps making noise in Montreal. She beats Bouzas Maneiro to reach the semifinals, after taking out Coco Gauff and Marie Bouzková. From No. 350 at the end of 2024 to No. 85 today. Born in 2006.

BY THE NUMBERS 📊

• Since Shanghai became part of the Masters 1000 circuit in 2009, no non-European player had made the quarters at all nine events — until Taylor Fritz today.

• Victoria Mboko just became the fifth-youngest player to beat a top seed at a WTA 1000 event since the format launched in 2009.

• Alexander Zverev is the first player born in the ’90s to hit 500 ATP match wins — team events included.

• Players able to reach 21+ career Masters 1000 SFs: Novak Djokovic (79), Rafael Nadal (76), Roger Federer (66), Andy Murray (33), Andre Agassi (32), Pete Sampras (31), Alexander Zverev (21).

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