Jannik Sinner's rivals show what they really think as Wimbledon champ faces brutal snub

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

Jannik Sinner may be ranked as the ATP No. 1 player at present, but the four-time Grand Slam winner was recently omitted from a list of Tour's 'nicest players' by his fellow tennis stars
Jannik Sinner was noticeably absent from a list of the nicest tennis players on the ATP Tour, compiled by his fellow competitors. The revelation came during the National Bank Open in Canada this week, where a reduced field is competing for glory before the US Open later this month.
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Four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner, who pulled out of the Masters 1000 event to recover after his Wimbledon victory, was among several high-profile stars who withdrew from the tournament, including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
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Despite his absence, it was Alcaraz who was the most frequently mentioned name on the lists compiled by Francisco Cerundolo, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti. Casper Ruud, known for his kind demeanour like Alcaraz, was also a popular choice.
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Cerundolo chose Ruud, Alcaraz, his brother Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Jakub Mensik and Mariano Navone. Medvedev also opted for the duo of Ruud and Alcaraz, adding Joao Fonseca, Andrey Rublev and Miomir Kecmanovic to his list.
Rune also selected Alcaraz and Cerundolo but made sure to give a nod to Gael Monfils and Ben Shelton, describing the latter as a "good lad." His other choice could potentially stir up controversy as he named Nick Kyrgios on his list, claiming that the Aussie, notorious for his fiery personality, is nice "with me personally", reports the Express.
Despite Musetti's list being dominated by his fellow Italians, Sinner was notably absent. Instead, the 23-year-old opted for Flavio Cobolli, Lorenzo Sonego, Matteo Berrettini and Simone Bolelli.
Sinner's omission is not a reflection of his character, as he has been highly praised by none other than his fiercest competitor, Alcaraz. Speaking about their off-court friendship to Gazzetta, the Spaniard said: "Tennis is a unique sport that allows you to be great rivals on the court and, at the same time, maintain mutual respect.
"Sinner and I are good friends; we can talk about many things off the court. I have great respect for him; he's a great person; I'm sure we'll always be able to maintain this relationship."
He added: "We talk a little bit besides tennis, about life. But not too much. It means we have a good relationship but we are not close friends. I think the respect we have puts us in a position that we have a really good relationship."
No stranger to one another on the court, Sinner and Alcaraz recently completed a battle for the ages at this summer's final of Wimbledon. While Alcaraz took the first set 6-4, ATP No. 1 Sinner came back to take the next three, and ultimately, his maiden title on the courts of SW19.