Jannik Sinner remains indifferent towards the demise of his preferred individuals.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz's US Open journeys came to an end, leaving Jannik Sinner as the standout player. Sinner, unlike Djokovic and Alcaraz, sailed through the Grand Slam tournament in New York, defeating Christopher O'Connell with ease. Sinner, the world number one, clinched a 6:1, 6:4, 6:2 victory over O'Connell in the third round, securing a spot in the round of 16.
"I had a fantastic game today. My serve was on point, I'm really pleased," expressed Sinner following his win. He wrapped up the match in just 1 hour and 53 minutes, and his opponent failed to earn a single break point during the encounter.
With Djokovic and Alcaraz out, Sinner becomes the front-runner to claim his first title in New York. He could potentially face Alexander Zverev in the final. "Anything can happen in this sport. I just focus on my game," said Sinner about the elimination of his competitors.
Amazingly, Djokovic fell short of making it to the round of 16, losing to Alexei Popyrin. Meanwhile, Alcaraz's unexpected defeat came at the hands of Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. Unfortunately, van de Zandschulp failed to maintain his form against Jack Draper, losing 3:6, 4:6, 2:6.
This was Sinner's third comeback performance after the media frenzy surrounding him due to a doping scandal. In March, he reportedly tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid, Clostebol, twice. However, an independent court cleared him just before the US Open, accepting Sinner's explanation that the banned substance accidentally entered his body.
Sinner's US Open victory over O'Connell means he avoids facing Djokovic or Alcaraz in later rounds, given their early exits. With his impressive form and clear path forward, Sinner is now strongly positioned to win his first US Open title.
