Italy's Jannik Sinner begins his clay court season at the Masters 1,000 this week as the world number two, while the leader of the rankings is still considered by many to be the greatest of all time, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, who turns 37 on 22 May and begins his 420th week at the top of the ATP rankings with 9,725 points. 

The 22-year-old Italian (he will be 23 after Paris 2024) is part of a new generation of tennis players that is growing week by week on the ATP Tour. He is also playing doubles with compatriot Lorenzo Sonego in preparation for the Olympic Games. He will make his singles debut against the winner of the Spanish Alejandro Davidovich and American Sebastian Korda.

The current tennis sensation makes his debut on clay in Monte Carlo this week with a clear goal in mind: "To be ready for Roland Garros and the Olympics". "The tournaments on hard surface went well, now we will see what happens on clay. I played well here last year (he lost in the semi-finals) but it was worse afterwards, so we'll see," warned the player who won the Miami Masters 1,000 to overtake Alcaraz for second place in the ATP rankings.

"It will be difficult because it's a surface where I usually have problems. I feel better on hard courts, which doesn't mean I'm not good on clay, but at the beginning of the Tour my expectations are not very high. The goal is to be ready for Roland Garros and the Olympics. Monte Carlo will be like a training week, I hope to play more than one match," said the new tennis star from San Candido.

On the importance of Paris 2024, the 2024 Australian Open winner commented: "It's only every four years! You never know what can happen from one edition to the next. That's one of my main goals. It will be my first experience of the Games, so I hope to meet other athletes; it will be amazing. I missed the last Games because I wasn't feeling well, so I'm even more excited this time".

On the work he has done this season, Sinner said: "I have been working hard. The only thing you can control from start to finish of a match is the mental aspect. I always try to control my mind to helps me on the court. It's pressure, but it's good pressure. I'm happy to feel it and have a normal life at the same time. When I leave the court and go home, I am a normal person.