Sinner, 23, has two Slams, is the World No.1 and is part of tennis’ new and intriguing rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz. (Reuters)
The year-ending ATP finals will be held in Italy in front of a capacity crowd. Homeboy Jannik Sinner is receiving the kind of attention that only the Azzurri get in the football-crazed nation. With an all-win record thus far, he may be with friends and family by the weekend, celebrating yet another Cup victory.
So why is Italy, in particular, and the tennis world in general, hit by a sudden bout of hand-wringing? And why was Turin desperate to see Sinner play Alcaraz till the Spaniard got knocked out of the tournament? Is it because of the fears that this could well be the last time they watch Sinner in action or get a chance to watch the modern-day rivalry?
The reason for tennis’s trepidation is the bolt from the blue it was hit by from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) this September. It challenged the clearance given to Sinner by an independent panel in an old case where the World No.1 had reportedly tested positive for a banned substance. WADA has now approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and in case the appeal is upheld, Sinner could well be banned for close to two years.
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At 23, Sinner has two Slams, is the World No.1 and also part of tennis’s new-exciting rivalry. His duels with Carlos Alcaraz, 21, are a huge draw. Mats Wilander rates the Sinner-Alcaraz face-offs better than ones between Djokovic, Nadal and Federer. “When Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has ever played better tennis,” he said.
Beyond Wilander’s exaggeration, Sinner has made a habit of beating Djokovic. Though against Alcaraz he falters on most days. Tennis seems to have found its Big 3 again. Watching the blistering action on the hard courts at the ATP final firms up the belief that Pickleball and Paddle will remain the also-rans of racket sports with Tennis the king.
The intense Sinner-Alcaraz combats had come with a promise. This year after the ‘match of the year’ at China Open in September, the time Wilander had got carried away, the two had achieved the impossible. So used to those epic Slam weekends with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic; the young challengers had almost managed a worthy follow-up.
In 2024, Sinner-Alcaraz show was actually the new travelling circus that was getting rave reviews across the world. The die-hards disillusioned by the two big departures were seeing flashes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in Sinner and Alcaraz. Now, there are doubts.
If the CAS verdict, expected early next year, goes against Sinner, tennis will lose fans and the fulcrum it rests on. Before WADA’s shocking public statement, tennis in 2024 seemed to be following a script that seemed to have been written by the marketing men at the ATP office. Tennis was great again. It had an ensemble that reality show organisers sweat to put together – contrasting characters that promise ultimate entertainment.
Here’s why the international circuit is a battlefield that is witnessing a compelling conflict of equals. This year Sinner has won the Australian and US Open, Alcaraz triumphed at the French Open and Wimbledon while Djokovic got Paris Olympics gold. The head-to-head record of their last four meetings gave no clue about the hierarchy. Sinner-Djokovic: 3-1, Alcaraz-Sinner: 3-1, Djokovic-Alcaraz: 3-1.
Rivalry of the two young turks and an old master who the two respect but don’t fear – this is gold dust, a dream scenario for any sport. Three strong contenders means no boredom of domination and a very layered contest on the court. A duopoly is risky, a tri-poly offers a back-up of injuries.
Everything has fallen in place for tennis. The cast is varied – there are many heroes, and anti-heroes too. Alcaraz is the kind of boy mothers want their daughter to bring home but the same can’t be said about Zverev, infamous for settling a domestic abuse case with former girlfriend. Sinner has an air of mystery around him. Good old Djokovic, denied love in the Federer-Nadal days, was finally getting support and sympathy from the stands.
Anyone who wants to understand what tennis could end up missing for the next two years should watch the China Open final. It was a throwback to the days when Djokovic had started to challenge Federer.
Alcaraz would throw the kitchen sink at the ball, Sinner was more guarded. Alcaraz more Federer, Sinner more Djokovic. The Spaniard is like a young boy at Disneyland, excited to exploit each corner of the court, running around chasing balls, refusing to get off the roller-coaster. Sinner is more measured – in his moment and his shots. Alcaraz toggles from 7/10 to 11/10, Sinner stays at 9/10.
However, if the worst happened, Djokovic will miss Sinner the most. After winning in Paris, the Serb with record Slams appeared to have accomplished everything. He wore the medal for days, including the following competition he played in.
For a tough competitor like Djokovic, 2025 is about improving his overall 4-4 head-to-head record with Sinner. That’s what will get him up in the mornings during the cold and force him to put in an extra hour of training. John McEnroe seems to have lost enthusiasm after his greatest competitor, Bjorn Borg, retired with a head-to-head record of 7-7. Djokovic cannot afford to lose his motivation at this juncture of his career and life.
A 37-year-old Serb will be among those clapping for Sinner this weekend, fingers crossed.
