Jannik Sinner: Quiet man of tennis basks in the limelight

Straits Times

9 hours ago

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Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrating after beating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon men's singles final at the All England Club in London on July 13.
LONDON – Jannik Sinner is the quiet man of tennis who has become a big noise, burnishing his legacy on July 13 by winning his first Wimbledon title.
The Italian beat his fierce rival Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the latest instalment of their captivating rivalry to claim his fourth Grand Slam at the age of 23.
The pair are the new dominant forces in men's tennis, sharing the past seven Grand Slams between them as the memory of the 'Big Three' era fades.
While Alcaraz is the flashy showman of the game, adored by the fans for his high-risk, high-reward tennis, Sinner stays ice-cold on the court and mild-mannered off it.
His game is based on relentless power and accuracy from the baseline, resembling that of 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
The Italian is getting used to life at the top, reaching his fourth successive major final at Wimbledon this year – a run that started with the 2024 US Open.
Sinner defended his Australian Open title in Melbourne in January but his career was put on hold after that as he served a three-month ban for twice testing positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol in 2024.
Sinner has always maintained the product entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing it to treat a cut.
The World Anti-Doping Agency said 'Sinner did not intend to cheat' but that he would serve his suspension as he is responsible for the actions of his entourage.
Sinner returned to the court in May, reaching the final of the Italian Open, where he was beaten by Alcaraz.
Next on his schedule was the French Open and again he reached the title match, this time suffering heartbreak as Alcaraz came back from two sets down, saving three match points to defend his title.
That gave the Spaniard an 8-4 lead in the rivalry between the pair and was his fifth straight win.
But the tables were turned on July 13 as Sinner showed impressive mental strength to come back after losing the first set.
Said the Italian: 'Emotionally I had a very tough loss in Paris. So I'm very happy that I held my nerves and yeah, it's an amazing feeling.'
Sinner was born in German-speaking San Candido, in northern Italy, near the border with Austria.
A career in professional tennis was not a given.
He was a champion skier as a youngster and still enjoys the sport in the off-season. He was also a keen footballer.
The right-hander, who stands at 1.91m, won his first title indoors in Sofia in 2020.
The 2024 season was his breakthrough year as he collected his first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, and followed up with seven other titles, including the US Open.
He became world No. 1 – and the first Italian to reach top spot – in June 2024.
Sinner's superpower is his extraordinary ability to stay calm on court.
'I know he's just 23 years of age, but sometimes it feels like he's much older and wiser than what we are,' said his coach Darren Cahill. 'He's an incredible young man.'
Sinner added: 'I don't think I'm at my best because at 23 I don't think you can be in your best shape ever. So hopefully I can keep improving.'
Sinner makes no secret of the fact that he loves the job he has chosen.
'I'm very lucky because tennis started off a hobby when I was young, and now it becomes my job,' he said.
'In my mind it's still a hobby. I love to go on court and just play. There is no better place to do it than in big stadiums with packed crowd.' AFP, REUTERS