With back-to-back titles in Sofia, Jannik Sinner thinks big, and big-picture

Tennis Channel Live: Sinner wins his fourth title in the last 12 months

A year ago, Jannik Sinner won the ATP event at Sofia to capture his first tour title. The 20-year-old Italian enjoyed it so much he decided to do it again, defeating Gael Monfils to lift the trophy in consecutive seasons.

He had already found a special place for the first award, in what is likely to be a growing collection.

"When I enter my apartment, it's the first thing on the left. It's very, very nice when I come back home to look at my trophies, and obviously the first one of my career," he had said as he arrived in Sofia for his title defense this week.

Now he has another to go with it, along with a win at a warm-up event in Melbourne at the beginning of the season and his first 500 level trophy, which he picked up at Washington, D.C.

"Coming back here and playing a great tournament once again for me is very, very special feeling. I like the conditions here, I like the court," Sinner told press following the final. "Winning a tournament is very tough at any level. I am happy to have two of these at home."

It's also a sign that he's solidly establishing himself at this level during a season when he has reached the fourth round of both the French Open and US Open, along with the finals of the Miami Masters and the semifinals in Barcelona, though he has had six first-round exits at other events.

"It was a great year which made me to feel a little bit more comfortable on the court," Sinner said. "With some up and down, which is normal for my age. I always practice hard, I always try to have the right solution in the right time. It was a good year until now."

But as usual, he's already looking forward.

"It doesn’t mean anything if you lift one more trophy or one less trophy. You always have to be focused," he said. "You have to want to improve. The season is still on."

Sinner plans to leave straightaway for Indian Wells, where he will be aiming for another good run to try to qualify for the ATP Finals. He is in 10th place, with No. 7 Rafael Nadal having already said he won't play in the eight-player tournament.

Having defended his Sofia title, he's also going to stay No. 14 in the rankings.