Five US Open Jannik Sinner facts to know
Jannik Sinner is the top seed at the US Open, where he will try to claim his second major title. The Italian took the tennis world by storm at this year’s Australian Open, where he lifted his first Grand Slam trophy.
Before the 23-year-old plays Mackenzie McDonald in the first round at Flushing Meadows, ATPTour.com looks at five fast facts from his career thus far at the US Open.
Sinner qualified for a major for the first time in New York
Hardcore fans remember well Sinner’s first qualifying match at a major, which came in 2019 at Wimbledon. He lost a tight encounter to Australian Alex Bolt.
But then a teen, the Italian qualified for his first major main draw two months later at the US Open. The 18-year-old defeated Matteo Viola, former training partner Viktor Galovic and Mario Vilella Martinez to reach the field of 128.
Memorable Alcaraz classic
One of the best matches from any tournament in recent memory was the 2022 US Open quarter-final between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Their rivalry reached a new stratosphere when they clashed inside Arthur Ashe Stadium deep into the night. For five hours and 15 minutes, the budding rivals bludgeoned groundstrokes and produced tremendously athletic rallies to thrill the New York fans.
Sinner held match point and served for victory in the fourth set, but was unable to convert. Alcaraz ultimately triumphed 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 at 2:50 a.m. The Spaniard went on to win the title and become the youngest No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history.
[ATP APP]Tough opponents galore
Many of Sinner’s matches at the US Open have come against top opponents. From the 15 main-draw matches he has played at Flushing Meadows, seven of his opponents have reached the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings in their career.
Sinner has twice faced 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka in New York. He lost to the Swiss on his debut in 2019 and defeated him last year in the third round.
The Italian has suffered two of his five US Open losses at the hands of Alexander Zverev.
Extended showdowns
Sinner does not go down without a fight and that has been the case at the US Open, too. Three of his five losses have come in five sets and another in four sets.
Of the 15 five-set matches has has played in his career, six have taken place in New York.
His best showing was…
The 23-year-old’s best result at the US Open came in 2022, when he made the quarter-finals. Sinner has advanced to at least the fourth round in the past three editions of the season’s final major.