Matches between these two typically consist of a lot of rapid-fire crosscourt rallies—forehand to forehand, or backhand to backhand, until one of the two takes control. This time, the quality of Sinner’s serve gave him an immediate edge in his service-game rallies, and he connected on just enough returns, at just the right moments, to earn his two breaks. Sinner will throw in a shank if a point goes long enough, but he’s better than anyone else right now at not letting the points extend. He can break them open from either wing, to either corner, at any time.
“What I was really impressed with today was how he served,” Fritz said of Sinner. “He served absolutely lights out. So many lines. He placed the serve great. He took a lot of risk on the second serve as well. I think that was probably one of his main game plans, to not let me attack his second serve.”
Along with finishing No 1 for the first time, is Sinner also raising the bar for men’s tennis? That’s something we’ve said about Alcaraz, and his nonpareil athleticism, over the past three seasons, but we’re starting to hear it said of Sinner, too.
After losing to him in the semifinals on Saturday, Casper Ruud was asked to compare Sinner and Djokovic.
