It’s become the biggest ask in tennis: Finding a way to solve Jannik Sinner.
Now 64 weeks into his reign atop the ATP Rankings—the fourth-longest first-time streak by any No. 1 in the history of the sport—the Italian has elevated his game to a whole new level; one, it seems, that only Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has been able to challenge with any regularity.
The four-time major titlist is riding a 22-match win streak at the hard-court Grand Slams. He also owns a 21-1 record at the Grand Slam level in 2025 after lifting trophies at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reaching the Roland Garros final, where he held three championship points against the aforementioned Alcaraz.
Returning to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in search of a title defense, the top-seeded and top-ranked 24-year-old has found a way to continually vex his tour colleagues. So how do you beat this guy anyway?
Alexander Bublik has now faced Sinner on six occasions. Though the Kazakh trails the head-to-head, 2-4, he claimed their most recent encounter, in the Round of 16 on grass in Halle, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“He’s fast, he’s resilient, he’s hitting hard, he’s taking the ball very early. I think he’s one of the two best players on the planet right now,” said the 24th-ranked Bublik, coupling Sinner with Alcaraz. “But Jannik is a machine. He hits everything on the rise. He’s able to do that for hours, weeks, months. Carlos is more exciting, in a way, because he is this crazy, spectacular, non-stop show. But Jannik is more of a cold killer.”
Vit Kopriva, 28, had the unfortunate pleasure of facing Sinner in the opening round this year in Flushing Meadows, in his Grand Slam main-draw debut. After a quick 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 defeat, the Czech baseliner extolled Sinner’s serve.
“It’s so good, the placement,” he said. “Some other players can serve faster, but the placement is so spot-on. When the moment is tight, he puts the first serve in. That’s what the great players do.”
“Carlos is more exciting, in a way, because he is this crazy, spectacular, non-stop show. But Jannik is more of a cold killer.”
“It’s so tough to play against him,” added Kopriva. “From the baseline, he’s playing so fast, trying to build his game, to build the points how he wants. He pushes you. He puts you on the defensive. It’s not easy to find a place to go.”
“The ranking speaks for itself,” says 10th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti , who’s winless in two encounters against his fellow Italian. “He really likes to play in these conditions. He’s the defending champion and has had an amazing season so far. He’s an example for us, and it’s a motivation to go higher.”
World No. 21 Jiri Lehecka of Czechia has now faced Sinner on three occasions, coming up short each time, most recently a 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 defeat earlier this year in the third round at Roland Garros.
“Jannik is just super, super consistent. The level he keeps, no matter who he is playing, is just so high,” Lehecka told USOpen.org. “The consistency is unreal. Together with his skill, the way he approaches the ball, the way he tries to take advantage of every chance he has, it makes him so solid, so dangerous.
“It doesn’t really matter where in the tournament that you face him. Against some players in the first round, you can see that they are not feeling that great, that they need a couple of matches to find their best tennis. But with Jannik, he plays unbelievable from the first day. That helps him to save energy, because he gets some quick wins. He doesn’t spend more time than is necessary on the court. The ranking speaks for itself.”
Next up for Sinner is second-round opponent Alexei Popyrin, no stranger to playing marquee matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Last year, coming off his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal, he stunned four-time US Open champ Novak Djokovic in the third round, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. He’ll have his work cut out for him again against Sinner, who’s a much different player from when they last faced each other back in 2021. The Aussie prevailed in the contest, 7-6(5), 6-2, in the second round in Madrid.
“Jannik’s the best in the world for a reason. But I don’t feel too star-struck by the occasion,” said Popyrin, ranked No. 36. “I’ve been in this position before. Last year [in New York] is a great example.”
“But he’s just an unbelievable ball-striker. If you give him a little bit of time, he’ll put you away. He’ll put you away if you hit with the same rhythm to him all the time. His serve has improved over the years, and I think that’s what’s got him to where he is right now. His returns are good. An unbelievable mover, also. His slides into that open-stance backhand are unbelievable. He’s just an all-round, great player.”
Maybe Sinner’s chief rival put it best: “I know that Jannik, without a doubt, he’s the best player in the world on hard courts, and probably on every surface right now,” asserted Alcaraz.
Sinner’s greatest strength?
“The ability of not having any weaknesses,” said the world No. 2. “It’s crazy, the way he always plays at his best. It seems like you have to earn every point every game. He makes you suffer from the first point of the match until the last ball. The capacity of being there mentally, point after point, not having ups and downs in the match makes him really, really special. The way he moves, the way he hits the ball. It’s amazing. It’s really tough to find holes in his game.”
