Sinner puts the brakes on: “I’m not the favorite”

After his impressive performance last night against Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner is the hottest candidate for the Grand Slam title in New York. But the South Tyrolean doesn't want to hear anything about it.

September 05, 2024

From: fop/dpa

Sinner is under particular public scrutiny after being acquitted shortly before the tournament following two positive doping tests in the spring. Undeterred, he advanced to the semifinals of the US Open with a win against Medvedev. "It was very difficult, we had already played against each other in Australia and London," said Sinner about the duel. He won this match in 2 hours and 40 minutes with 6:2, 1:6, 6:1 and 6:4.

"Everyone who managed to break first pulled away. I'm very happy," said the winner of the quarter-final duel. "Daniil has moments when he doesn't make a single mistake. That's exactly when it's important to find the right tactics." The 23-year-old from Sexten thinks he "succeeded quite well" in this.

Medvedev, who also made 57 unforced errors on Wednesday, and Sinner recently had a tough fight over the whole distance at Wimbledon, with the Muscovite coming out on top. Now they had some spectacular rallies in Flushing Meadows like this one:

After the victory over Medvedev, Sinner will face in the semifinals on Friday at 21 p.m. (CEST/in the SportNews ticker) against the outsider Jack Draper. The 22-year-old Brit surprisingly defeated the number ten seeded Australian Alex de Minaur 6:3,7:5,6:2 and thus reached a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time. Draper has not lost a set in the entire tournament.

“We know each other very well, we are good friends” Jannik Sinner about Jack Draper

"He is a complete player. We know each other very well and are good friends off the pitch too," reveals Sinner, who is the most experienced player of the four remaining players. Neither Draper nor the two Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe have played anywhere near as many important matches as the number one. "Nevertheless, I don't see myself as a favorite," explains Sinner, "I'm lucky to have already played in a few semi-finals and finals, but that doesn't mean much. All quarter-finalists and semi-finalists at Grand Slam tournaments are absolutely world-class players."

Draper is Britain's pride and joy

For British fans, Draper's performance is a soothing relief for the wounds following Andy Murray's retirement after the Olympic Games. The Englishman achieved his best Grand Slam result to date last year when he reached the round of 16 at the US Open. "It's great. Playing on the biggest court in the world for the first time is a dream for me," said Draper in Arthur Ashe Stadium. On Friday he will face the world's best tennis player, Jannik Sinner.