Is Jannik Sinner emerging as the new Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon?
Jannik Sinner passed a huge fitness test as he beat Ben Shelton to secure his move into the Wimbledon semi-finals, but the noise that greeted his victory was somewhat muted as the Italian won his final point on No.1 Court.
The packed stands may have been disappointed that their day at Wimbledon was coming to an end as Sinner banished fears over his damaged elbow to beat America’s Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4.
This was a typically ruthless performance from the ice-cool Sinner and that may be where he is struggling to win over a Wimbledon fanbase that has, predominantly, decided to support his big rival at the top of the men’s game.
Carlos Alcaraz is the new darling of the Wimbledon fans, with the engaging Spaniard winning the title for the last two years at the All England Club in a manner that has created a hugely positive impact.
Every time Alcaraz plays on the hallowed grass courts at the SW19 postcode, he is treated like a hometown hero, with the cheers for his shots as raucous as they would be for a British player.
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Yet that level of backing is not there for Sinner, who plays the game in a more robotic manner that may be harder to engage with.
Sinner’s thumping ground strokes, fearsome serve and steely coolness under pressure are all admirable qualities, but that are not as enthralling as Alcaraz’s joyous expressions both in his smile and his brand of tennis.
So could it be that Sinner is suffering from a problem that seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has never managed to overcome at the home of the ultimate festival of grass court tennis?
Djokovic has always been the ‘other’ player in a golden generation of heroes who rewrote the tennis record books, with his success in winning more Grand Slam titles than his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal not enough to earn him a victory in the popularity stakes.
Even after the retirements of Federer and Nadal, Djokovic still struggles to get the love of the Wimbledon crowds and it feels like the jury is also out on Sinner.
His each and every winner at Wimbledon has been greeted with polite applause rather than wild delight from the spectators, with his sedated personality likely to be contributing to that indifference.
Alcaraz has the endearing charisma and fire that ensures he is adored by tennis fans of all ages, but world No 1 Sinner is currently respected rather than loved by tennis fans.
The three-month drug ban he served earlier this year may have contributed to the air of uncertainty around him, with many fans who visit Wimbledon unlikely to have followed the details behind his doping case or the reasons for his relatively lenient suspension.
When you consider this audience took time to take Scotsman Andy Murray to their hearts and Djokovic has never won them over, Sinner may face a long wait to become a fan’s favourite at Wimbledon.
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