Welcome to Next Up, where USOpen.org will showcase rising stars on the ATP and WTA tours who could be in line to make a splash to remember at the 2020 US Open. Today we profile 18-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner, who was a skiing prodigy before turning his full attention to tennis. Since then, he's been soaring up the ATP rankings.
Five years ago, Jannik Sinner’s career path was strictly downhill… as in downhill skiing. Tennis was a secondary sport for the young Italian, who was turning heads with his ability on the slopes. Sinner has since turned his attention to tennis, and his career trajectory is all uphill. Heading into the 2020 US Open, he might be the fastest-rising player on the ATP Tour.
Sinner, who will turn 19 on Aug. 16, two weeks before the Open begins, began 2019 with a world ranking of No. 551. After winning three ATP Challenger titles and qualifying for the main draw at last year’s US Open, he ended the year as the youngest player in the ATP's Top 100. Sinner reached a career-high rank of No. 68 in February of this year, and currently ranks No. 78.
“You have those special players,” former world No. 4 Thomas Enqvist told ATPTour.com. “When they break through it goes very quickly. In six months, a lot of things can happen and I think Sinner’s one of those players who has just taken a huge step.”
Sinner, who grew up in San Candido, Italy, and currently resides in Monaco, has taken several huge steps in the last 12 months.
Sinner won three qualifying matches at the 2019 US Open to earn his main draw debut, then took a set from former US Open champ Stan Wawrinka before losing the first-round match. A month later at the European Open, he stunned Gael Monfils on his way to a quarterfinal appearance. In November, Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur to win the NextGen ATP title.
After his breakthrough win over Monfils, Sinner credited his US Open debut as a huge confidence-builder.
“It was a very big court against a three-time Grand Slam champion,” he said of his meeting with Wawrinka. “I played very good there. Of course that helped me. I’m trying to [gain] experience, especially this year. I’m trying to play good or better next year.”
And that’s exactly what’s happened. In January, he notched his first Grand Slam win, defeating Aussie Max Purcell in the first round at the Australian Open. In February at Rotterdam, Sinner defeated David Goffin in a Round-of-16 match to record his first career victory against a Top 10 opponent.
The 6-2 right-hander possesses a solid serve and one of the best backhands on the tour—ATP Tour analytics credit Sinner with the best backhand topspin and the fifth-fastest backhand on the tour.
Clearly, his decision to forego the junior circuit in favor of playing lower-level pro tournaments has paid dividends at a young age. That decision was fueled by self-confidence.
“I think the disadvantages... if you’re starting to go on a higher level and you don’t have the level, I think it’s better to stay in juniors,” he said. “But I think my team always saw me that I have this level to compete, so they let me do whatever I wanted.”
Despite his age, Sinner demonstrates a maturity both on and off the court. In his native Italy, where the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, he’s donated money and been involved in the relief efforts. On Instagram, he created the #SinnerPizzaChallenge, donating money any time someone posted a photo of a pizza with a face on it.
The COVID-19 shutdown apparently has not slowed Sinner’s rapid rise. At an exhibition tournament in July, he defeated No. 12 Karen Khachanov and No. 15 Roberto Bautista Agut before falling to No. 3 Dominic Thiem in the finals.
No Italian has ever won the US Open men’s singles title. Matteo Berrettini made a strong run last year, drawing the attention of the tennis world with a semifinal run. Berrettini has since risen to a No. 8 ranking. As Sinner advances faster than an Olympic skier, he could find himself making a run of his own this year.
