US Open 2025: Jannik Sinner and the power of determination
Jannik Sinner rose from the heartbreak of Roland Garros to claim the Wimbledon title. It would be no surprise if the Italian player successfully defends his US Open championship, even though he arrived at Flushing Meadows nursing chest pains from Cincinnati.
Though he couldn’t say much after the match, the dominant 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 win against Vit Kopriva showed that Sinner has somewhat eased worries about his physical condition, which had earlier caused him to retire from the Cincinnati Masters final.
Returning to Sesto and revival
In early June, Jannik Sinner suffered a loss that could haunt him mentally for years. He missed three match points in the fourth set of the Roland Garros final and then lost to Alcaraz, his biggest and nearly sole rival for the No.1 spot, in a fifth-set tiebreak. He returned to Sesto, a small village in the Alps of northeast Italy where his parents and grandfather still live, seeking comfort. Five weeks later, Sinner won Wimbledon, defeating Alcaraz after dropping the opening set—a set Alcaraz took with an incredible shot, a kind of point that has shattered many opponents, including Sinner himself.
Winning Wimbledon was a life-changing milestone that has caused many players to lose themselves in the glory. At 24, tall, handsome, and having earned hundreds of millions of dollars from prize money and endorsements, Sinner could fulfill any desire with a few taps on his phone. Yet, he chose a different path. He went home. Sinner slept in his brother’s old room, took walks, played cards and chess with family, golfed with his father when he was free from his chef duties at the restaurant, reconnected with old friends, and drove along scenic mountain roads.
"We always embrace both success and failure in the same way," Sinner shared in a private interview in Cincinnati. "The most important thing is that we are healthy and have joyful moments together." He paused, then added the obvious: "Of course, people are happier when I win. But even when I lose, they’re happy because I come back, because I want to see them, to enjoy time with friends and those I truly care about. So, in both senses, it’s wonderful. I believe that in crucial moments, you need to return home to be with those you love."
Doping turmoil and legal battle
Throughout their careers, tennis stars have portrayed various images—from partygoers to celebrities mingling with high society. But Sinner chooses to maintain a simple image: the son of a chef and a waitress, brother to a firefighter coach, someone who remains calm even after losing a Grand Slam within reach.
"Many talk about the champion’s mindset," head coach Simone Vagnozzi said. "That mindset is about stepping up and facing difficult situations."
Sinner’s greatest strength is likely his willpower and composure
Last August, Sinner faced the toughest challenge of his career. The tennis anti-doping agency announced he tested positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024. An independent ITIA panel accepted the explanation that physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi accidentally caused cross-contamination while applying healing cream and massaging Sinner. The conclusion was that Sinner was "not at fault or negligent" and did not intentionally use doping substances.
This information became public just before his plane landed in New York for the US Open. Facing the press, Sinner chose to explain the situation himself rather than avoid it. Two weeks later, he won the tournament but described the journey as filled with darkness and hardship rather than a straightforward victory.
Just when it seemed the matter was closed, WADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking a two-year ban for Sinner. Although the agency acknowledged he had no intent, they argued he was still responsible for the banned substance in his body. For six months, Sinner’s future hung in the balance, even as he managed to win the ATP Finals, Davis Cup, and Australian Open during that period.
Eventually, WADA and Sinner reached an agreement: he accepted a three-month suspension from after the Australian Open until before the Italian Open. Upon his return, he was welcomed as a hero and even met Pope Leo just days after the pontiff took office. Since then, he has continued to win nearly everything—except when facing Alcaraz on the other side of the net.
Family, composure, and professional progress
Sinner’s parents rarely appear in the stands. His father, Hanspeter, missed the Roland Garros final due to work during the busy summer tourism season in the Dolomites. His mother, Siglinde, now manages several rental apartments and only occasionally attends matches. She often worries excessively watching her son, once leaving the Italian Open semifinal mid-match. Sinner reassures his mother in an unusual way: "It’s just a tennis match. The worst is losing, but the next day, life is still wonderful," he said, shaking his head: "That’s parents for you."
Sinner hasn’t always been so composed. As a teenager entering the professional arena, he would get frustrated after losses, feeling his parents had sacrificed too much money and effort for him. Everything changed at 18, when he won the Next Gen Finals, broke into the Top 100, and could support his career independently.
Under the guidance of Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, Sinner altered his playing style: stronger serves, powerful forehands, and versatile backhands. He also learned to rely on data, analyzing opponents’ weaknesses. For example, before facing Canadian talent Gabriel Diallo, they discovered Diallo was prone to errors when opponents returned his second serve from inside the court. Sinner applied this tactic effectively and succeeded.
"Numbers always matter, even if they sometimes seem illogical. Players need to trust their instincts in the moment," Cahill explained. After losing to Alcaraz at Roland Garros, the team agreed Sinner needed to be braver in critical moments. They quickly adjusted, focusing on improving his running forehand, which Alcaraz had exploited. On grass, this paid off maximally, helping Sinner defeat his biggest rival and claim Wimbledon.
"We must always improve because others will try to catch up," Sinner said. "They know how I play, and they know how I live. Win or lose, I will always return to Sesto shortly after."
Phuong Chi
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