Italy is hosting the year-ending ATP finals to packed houses. Home boy Jannik Sinner is getting the kind of attention that only the Azzurri enjoy in the football-crazy nation. With an all-win record so far, by weekend he could be with friends, family and one more Cup.
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.
With due respect to the ethos of fair-play and while supporting harsh punishment to dope cheats, Sinner’s long absence from the circuit will be a bone-crushing blow on the knees of the sport that has been struggling to stand up after the retirement of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
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, in case the unthinkable happens, it will be Djokovic who will miss Sinner most. After the Paris gold, the Serb with record Slams seemed to have achieved everything. He wore the medal for days, even wore it for the next tournament he played.
For a fierce competitor like Djokovic, 2025 would be about improving his overall 4-4 head to head record against Sinner. That’s what will wake him up on winter mornings and make him spend that extra hour at training. John McEnroe seemed to have lost his motivation after his greatest rival Bjorn Borg retired when their head-to-head record was 7-7. Djokovic can’t afford to lose his drive at this stage of his career and life.
Among those clapping for Sinner with fingers crossed this weekend would be a 37-year-old Serb.
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