'I wouldn’t teach it...' - Jannik Sinner told one of his trademark techniques could be injury threat

Perhaps the most important tool for any men's tennis player to have in his locker is a first serve that could punch a hole in the side of a tank.

Jannik Sinner is renowned for his. The Italian, who is looking to add the last major to his collection in the absence of rival Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros.

Sinner has won the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon. As the reigning world number one, he's a favourite to win the French Open on the outskirts of Paris over the next couple of weeks.

The 24-year-old was beaten by Alcaraz in last year's final but has a chance to fire his serve past all comers without the Spaniard waiting in the final.

If you're planning to keep a close eye on his all-round technique with a view to improving your game, you might want to think twice.

A respected coach has identified a good reason not to take inspiration from Sinner's piledriver forehand, which is unleashed in part by powerfully correcting his grip and the direction of his racket as he plays a shot.

"There is a lot of wrist movement in the Sinner forehand," Aphrodite Hills Racket Club coach Kyle Kleyn told Tennis365.

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"If you break Sinner’s swing down, it starts in the shoulder. He is so relaxed in his shoulder and that’s a key. If you have tension in the shoulder, there’s no way you are going to get the racket to generate that head speed.

"If I was working with a player who was trying to do that forehand, I would not tell them to stop, but I would work on timing with them. That’s the key to the shot."

Is Sinner risking injury with his forehand?

"Sinner is strong enough to be able to play that way, but it would not be easy for a club player to try and hit that forehand consistently."

According to Greg Rusedski, the former British number one, lower level players attempting to match Sinner's unusual technique should be cautious if they're not 'in that gym every single day' and strong enough to withstand the physical toll.

"Go ahead if you want to try it, but make sure you’re super fit and super flexible in that shoulder and super strong," said Rusedski.

Sinner will attempt to make Wimbledon the second back-to-back championship of his career when he takes part in his only grass court competition of the season in June and July.

The Italian won the Australian Open in 2024 and successfully defended his title a year later.

He was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in 2026.