Jannik Sinner’s ‘biggest question mark’ ahead of US Open revealed by former British No 1
Jannik Sinner will head to the US Open as the world No 1, but he may not be the favourite to lift the title at Flushing Meadow due to one key reason.
Sinner started 2024 as the form player in the men’s game, with his stunning first Grand Slam title win at the Australian Open backed up by a victory at tournaments in Rotterdam and Miami.
His rise to world No 1 was confirmed amid that winning run, but Sinner’s momentum was halted as he moved into the European clay court season.
A hip problem forced him out of the Madrid Open and also derailed his hopes of playing in front of his home fans at the Rome Masters.
He reached the semi-finals at the French Open, but looked less than fully fit as he lost against Carlos Alcaraz and was then lost at Wimbledon against Daniil Medvedev while suffering from tonsillitis, with that illness forcing him out of the Olympics in Paris.
Sinner’s health and fitness have continued to be the big talking point around the world No 1 in his last two tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati and now former British No 1 Tim Henman has given his verdict on the Italian in an exclusive interview with Tennis365.
Henman, who will be a member of the Sky Sports Tennis team at the US Open, has suggested Sinner is not one of his two big favourites for the US Open title for one key reason.
“Health is your wealth in tennis and at this level when you are looking to win Slams, you have to be fit and healthy,” Henman told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview.
“Fitness is the biggest question mark around Sinner ahead of the US Open and it’s tough to have a hip problem if you are trying to win seven best-of-five-set matches at the US Open.
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“We saw him in Canada prodding and banging his hip and he also seems to have been troubled by it in Cincinnati.
“I’ve read a few quotes saying he is not worried about it, but it is not ideal if you are dealing with an injury like that ahead of a Slam.
“I really hope he can get fit and healthy as he is such an important part of men’s tennis and we need to have him playing as we know he can in our biggest tournaments.”
Henman went on to suggest Sinner’s form in the final weeks of 2023 and his commanding displays in the first third of this year were evidence of his immense talents, but he will not be able to play at those levels unless he is at his best physically.
“The way that Sinner played at the end of last year and the beginning of this confirmed he was the best player in the world,” added Henman.
“As we would expect Carlos Alcaraz has responded and Novak Djokovic winning Olympic gold was very special for him.
“As tennis fans watching the US Open on Sky Sports, we really want all three of them firing and going at it until the end of the tournament.
“When we see these players going head-to-head, it has been phenomenal to watch and they have all had their moments against each other.
“With Sinner winning in Australia, Alcaraz winning the French Open and Wimbledon and Djokovic winning the Olympics, it feel like everything is now on the line in the final major of the year.
“It has all the ingredients of a fascinating US Open if they are all fit, but the doubts over Sinner steer me towards Alcaraz and Djokovic being the two narrow favourites in New York.”
Watch the US Open exclusively live on Sky Sports and streaming service NOW from 26 August
