Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are by far the hot favorites to clinch the US Open however, Boris Becker wants to complete the triangle with another competitor.
The Djokovic-Alcaraz rivalry has taken over the tennis world by storm in recent months, with the duo now splitting their head-to-head meeting 2-2 as Alcaraz won by the five set Wimbledon classic and Djokovic prevailed in the three-set Western and Southern Open final over last weekend.
However, according to the 6-time GS winner, Becker, Sinner could prove to be a spoiler between the 2-time and 23-time Grand Slam champions. The Italian clinched the biggest title of his career in the first week of August as he won his maiden Masters 1000 crown by succeeding at National Bank Open/Rogers Cup in Toronto, Montreal. The ATP #6 also registered a runner-up finish at Floridian Masters in March after thwarting ATP #1 Alcaraz in the semis.
Sinner has always been backed to big win but this year the 22-year-old appears to be adding an extra gear to his game and the former German world #1 is not discounting the Italian in the silverware race at Flushing Meadows.
“When you win a 1000 competition, that’s a breakthrough – especially in the case of Jannik Sinner, who has been considered Djokovic’s predestined successor for the past two years,” said Becker while talking to Eurosport Germany’s Das Gelbe vom Ball podcast.
Sinner however, has not been able to extend his winning momentum he find in the Toronto Masters as he lost in his opener but Becker thinks it gave Italian some extra time to reflect back and prepare for the final slam of the season.
Billing Sinner as a favorite contender for New York major, Becker added: “He has the self-confidence and physical fitness for that. For me, he’s at the top of the list of favorites.”
Jannik Sinner at US Open
The Italian will be recording his 5th appearance at the final slam of the year and maintains a 7-4 record in New York. In his first two campaigns at the Flushing Meadows, he couldn’t get past the first round but made some steady progress in 2021 to reach the R4 where he lost to Alexander Zverev in straight sets.
His best result came in last year when he made it to the quarters of the season-ending slam and lost to eventual champion after blowing a two set lead. The blockbuster clash ended up as the second-longest match hosted by the US Open hardcourts with a duration of 5 hours and 15 minutes.