Jannik Sinner has been second major triumph presented himself as a thoughtful US Open winner. With his index finger on his temple, the Sextner spoke about the “difficult moments” due to the doping scandal at the Grand Slam in New York. With a serious expression, the world number one tennis player also thought of his sick aunt and, three hours after the big title celebration, questioned life as a professional athlete.
“She is a very special person in my life,” said Sinner, dedicating his clear 6:3, 6:4, 7:5 final victory over the American Taylor Fritz to her. He does not know how long he will have his aunt in his life. Even when he was young, she drove him to ski races. “If I had more time, I would spend more time with the people who really mean something to me. Unfortunately, things can happen in sport, but real life is something different.”
Of course, Sinner also provided the traditional images of a Grand Slam champion: a passionate kiss with girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya in the stands. There was a hug from Sinner’s friend, star singer Seal. And then there was the joyful celebration pose with the silver trophy in the confetti rain and in front of the Italian flag.
But Sinner did not seem to be really liberated. Not only because of his concern for his aunt, but above all because of the dark cloud hanging over him from the affair surrounding his doping acquittal. “It was a little bit in my head, and it still is,” the South Tyrolean admitted. “It hasn’t gone away.” In order to gain some distance, Sinner will not play for Italy in the Davis Cup, but will only start playing again in tournaments in Asia.
It was only shortly before the US Open that it became public that Sinner had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol twice in March. The world number one was allowed to continue playing, but was acquitted a few days before the start of the US Open. His explanation that the banned substance had accidentally entered his body during a massage was considered conclusive.
However, several opponents in New York, such as 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner Novak Djokovic, denounced unequal treatment compared to other players in similar cases. However, hardly anyone suspected that Sinner might have actually done something forbidden. “Congratulazioni,” was how Djokovic congratulated him on social media shortly after the match point.
“Forza Jannik,” wrote legend Boris Becker to Sinner, praising the South Tyrolean’s “mental strength.” “After a few difficult months in which everything was at stake, your unwavering belief in the truth made the difference.”
Sinner was also unperturbed in the final, dominating the overwhelmed Fritz in his first Grand Slam final. In the third set, the American regained hope with a break to 4:3, so that pop superstar Taylor Swift also jumped up and down in the VIP box in celebration. But Sinner held his nerve and won his second Grand Slam title after the Australian Open in January. “Sinner conquers America,” was the headline in the “Gazzetta dello Sport”.
For the first time since 2002, none of the so-called Big Three – Novak Djokovic (37), Rafael Nadal (38) and the already retired Roger Federer (43) – won a Grand Slam title this season. Instead, two trophies each went to Sinner and the 21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. “It’s nice to see new champions, new rivalries,” said Sinner. “It’s good for the sport.”
With the double coup of the two young superstars, the tectonic shift in world tennis could be about to be completed. For Nadal, it is only a question of when he announces his retirement. Perhaps, like Federer, in less than two weeks at the Laver Cup in Berlin (from September 20th)? And Djokovic has also achieved his greatest remaining goal with his Olympic triumph in Paris. For him, the 25th major title and the all-time record that comes with it is still an incentive.
This means the next generation can have greater hopes. “Perhaps it has become a little more open,” said Fritz about the chances at the big tournaments. “You don’t have to play incredibly well to get far in a tournament.”
From a financial perspective, the US Open was once again a huge success for the US Tennis Association (USTA). For the first time, 1,048,669 fans came to Flushing Meadows in the three weeks (including qualification and the side program in the week before the main competition). That is 8 percent more than a year ago.
