Jannik Sinner disagrees with statement from Carlos Alcaraz's coach - 'I'd say it different

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has disagreed with Carlos Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, over what is needed to become a leading tennis player. Sinner returned to top spot in the men's rankings after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Paris final last weekend.

The Italian will lose that position to Alcaraz when his ATP finals points come off, having won last year's event. However, the 24-year-old can win it back from the Spaniard again in Turin if a series of results come off.

Sinner has been drawn in the Bjorn Borg group alongside Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and either Lorenzo Musetti or Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian has qualified as it stands, but he will be superseded by Musetti if the Italian wins the title in Athens this weekend.

Both Auger-Aliassime and Musetti may end up qualifying for the season-ending event if Novak Djokovic pulls out. The 24-time grand slam champion, who is currently playing in Athens, has yet to confirm whether he will compete in Turin.

And ahead of Sinner's opening match in Italy, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion has been asked for his thoughts on an eye-opening statement from 2003 Roland Garros winner and ex-world No.1 Ferrero. The Spaniard, who has helped to coach Alcaraz to his six grand slam titles, shared his belief that you need to be a 'slave to tennis' to reach top-spot.

"I would use another term, I would say passion," Sinner told Sky Sports. "I have a lot of passion in what I do. I was lucky enough to practice a lot of sports as a kid, I played football, I did ski, I did cyclism, running... but tennis taught me I can find myself.

"Anything can happen outside the court, but on court I feel safe. And especially when things are good, you need to work more because when you feel good the mind learns every tiny detail.

"When you lose, you're more negative and it doesn't make sense to go on court at times. In tennis you have to make a lot of sacrifices but for me it will always be the most important thing, until I decide it's like this. The moment I realise it's over, that my body doesn't respond to me anymore, I will stop."

Asked for his reaction to returning to world No.1 post Paris, Sinner said: "Well, it's not only in my hands, but I'm of course happy. I knew from the beginning of the week that there is this chance. But as I said, you know, before the final, before every tournament or before every match, I try to put the best performance I can on the court, and then whatever comes, comes.

"And this is how I went on court. In Turin, I'm going to do the same. I watch my side, and I just play the best possible tennis I can, and if it's not gonna be, it's not gonna be.

"The goal of this week was to go day by day, trying to maximise my potential, which I have done for this week, and I'm extremely happy. As I said, now we recharge and hopefully be as ready as possible then for Turin, and we hope for a great tennis week there."