Last year, Jannik Sinner ’s season was nothing short of spectacular. He bagged eight titles, two of them Grand Slams, and ended as World No. 1. No small feat. This year has started just as strong. He defended his Australian Open crown and lifted his first Wimbledon title. In Cincinnati, he came close to defending his crown but health wasn’t on his side. Still, the World No.1 kept his chin up. New York is the next stop, and he isn’t backing down. But at the US Open, he faces an obstacle he may not be able to control.

On August 18, Sinner faced Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati final. The match lasted only 23 minutes. Down 0-5 and clearly struggling, the Italian stopped. He called it quits, handing Alcaraz his first Cincinnati Masters title. Afterward, Sinner admitted, “US Open is going

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