US Open winner Jannik Sinner: The unswerving red baron

After positive doping tests, the Italian Jannik Sinner is once again attracting attention with his good tennis. He wins the US Open final with ease.

With power and precision: Sinner in the final against Taylor Fritz Photo: imago

The probably most important moment for the eventual champion Jannik Sinner occurred before the US Open had even started. It was in the press conference before the New York tournament when an overzealous moderator tried to stifle the demands about Sünder’s unclear doping scandal and his controversial acquittal. But Sünder stopped the moderator – and then the South Tyrolean talked about everything that had happened in the last few months. “It felt good to finally be able to talk about it,” said Sinner, “I have a clear conscience.” It was like a liberation.”

A good two weeks later, Sinner gave an even bigger answer, the answer to the question of how he would deal with all the doubts and self-doubts surrounding the American Open Championships. The number one in the men’s tennis world rankings was also number one in the dazzling major spectacle in the Big Apple after an extremely confident 6:3, 6:4, 7:5 victory over the American Taylor Fritz, the cool party frightener for the assembled celebrity line-up including megastar Taylor Swift, Dustin Hoffmann, Matthew McConaughey and Tesla owner Elon Musk.

However, it was not a moment of celebration, excitement and happiness for the 23-year-old winner. Not only because of the doping issue, about which Sünder said: “It hasn’t gone away, it’s still in my head.” But also because of the worries about his seriously ill aunt, who had always looked after him when his parents had to work. Tennis is not “real life,” Sinner said, almost a little depressed, “I would rather spend more time with people who really mean something to me.”

The way Sinner held his own on the centre courts this summer despite a challenging life situation was astonishing. It is already clear that the first Italian US Open winner will have a significant say in the era after the big three. Even though Alexander Zverev has currently moved up to second place in the world rankings, Sünder and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz are the defining professionals in the here and now and probably also in the future. Sinner had the first and last word in this Grand Slam year of 2024, as winner in Australia, now in New York. Alcaraz won the tournaments in Paris and Wimbledon in between. There was nothing left for the old rulers like Đjoković or Nadal, but also not for players who were once considered crown princes like Zverev, Medvedev or Tsitsipas.

In just 139 minutes

Sinner crowned his convincing series of games with the New York coup, in which he used his power and precision against the overwhelmed local hero Fritz. Sinner’s “unshakable faith” was the key to his success, said TV expert Boris Becker, “I can only marvel at his mental strength.” Only once, when he was 3:5 behind in the third set, did the South Tyrolean briefly get into trouble, but in a furious final spurt he won the last four games and the winner’s trophy after just 139 minutes. There was never a thrilling atmosphere in the full arena, and the mood killer Sinner had completed his work in a planned manner.

“We have the king” was the headline of the Sports newspaper on Sinner’s US Open victory and called him, certainly not exaggeratedly, “Italy’s most popular sportsman”: “He is a boy like the friend next door.” Only on Centre Court are there no pleasantries from the man who is also called the “Red Baron” by his fans because of his hair color. Sinner’s win/loss statement as of the US Open final is 55:5; he has won six titles, just like Alcaraz.

However, he is alone at the top of the world rankings, with 11,180 points he is more than four thousand points ahead of Zverev (7,075). His opponent in the New York final, Fritz, who moved up to 7th place, is a world away with 4,060 points. Just like in the final duel.