Tennis | Sinner names the best of all time

At the US Open, Italian tennis superstar Jannik Sinner achieved his second Grand Slam success. Above all, the way in which the number one in the ATP rankings achieved his triumph suggests that the final victory in Flushing Meadows will not be Sinner’s last coup at a major. However, there is still a long way to go before the player who, according to the 23-year-old, is the best of all time, can achieve the same feat.

When asked who he thought was the GOAT in tennis, Jannik Sinner answered in an interview with media from the men’s tennis tour ATP: Roger Federer.

The Swiss celebrated 20 Grand Slam victories between 2003 and 2018. Federer was crowned winner eight times on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon alone; no player has won more titles in London to date.

Along with Andre Agassi, Fred Perry, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, he is also one of seven tennis stars to have won all four Grand Slams at least once.

Sinner names surprising bogeyman

The debate about who is the best tennis player of all time is one that has been hotly contested for years. With 24 Grand Slam titles, Novak Djokovic is number one on paper, followed by Rafael Nadal with 22. Both are still active, but Nadal is struggling with major physical problems, and it remains to be seen whether he can return to his previous performances. At 37, Djokovic is still among the absolute world elite. In 2023, the Serb won three more Grand Slams.

Sinner also revealed a surprising arch-rival: The Slovenian Aljaz Bedene had always challenged him extremely, so he was quite happy that Bedene hung up his racket in 2022, Sinner admitted.

A look at Sinner’s statistics: The Italian has won just one of four duels. However, they haven’t played against each other for three years. The matches therefore date from a time when Sinner was not yet among the world’s best.