He answers to Jannik Sinner, of course, or world No. 1. The 24-year-old from Italy is clearly the game’s top singles player.
But an Italian term is more appropriate, as Sinner has vanquished anyone unfortunate enough to be in his US Open path.
That includes Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sinner’s latest pelt, eliminated in Friday night’s semifinals, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Anyone for Macchina Lanciapalle?
Yep, Ball Machine has a ring to it and it certainly applies to Sinner as he defends his US Open title.
The modest Italian would brush off the label. "I'm not a machine," he said after dropping a set to Denis Shapovalov in the third round. Sinner’s rivals see it differently.
Auger-Aliassime, who should be commended for his incredible effort, supreme shotmaking and a sensational second set, discovered what everyone knew about Sinner’s incomparable game.
Whatever ball is pushed toward Sinner, it comes back. Wherever a penetrating and pinpoint groundstroke is placed, it comes back. Whenever a player is retiring their racquet to celebrate a crisp volley, it comes back.
The joy of a ball machine is it can be unplugged. The rub with Sinner is there’s no off switch.
Sinner, who’s won two majors this year, has been on rinse-and-repeat in shredding opponents since reaching New York City. If someone absorbing a losing set posts a crooked number, it’s a win of sorts.
A valiant Auger-Aliassime took a set off Sinner—the second one he’s relinquished this tournament—and the debate continues on where the commemorative plaque will be erected.
That’s a stretch, but not by much.
Sinner, who fought off nine of 10 break points, did have an abdominal issue that required a medical timeout after the second set. But even at less than his best, he’s better than most.
"I just felt a small twitching after a serve when I served there in the second set at 4-3. After the treatment, I was feeling much, much better," Sinner said. "At some point I didn't feel anything anymore. I was serving back to normal pace, so it was all good. Nothing to worry about."
The man who rests on tennis’ throne has done everything but sit atop the Empire State Building and swat planes like King Kong. Sinner is a tennis monster, scary to face and such a unicorn that fans can’t turn away.
Those on the business end of his shots are constantly on their heels. When Sinner scampers, he’s consistently on his toes.
“Jannik, you know, all credit to him,’’ Auger-Aliassime said. “He’s been dominating on hard courts, but I mean, kind of everywhere.”
He’s reached five straight Grand Slam finals. He’s won 27 consecutive matches in hard-court majors, and if he prevails on Sunday against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz for his second US Open title, he’ll join a select group of men winning three majors in a season: Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“Five straight Grand Slam finals, it's something great,’’ Sinner said. “The consistency and putting myself there in the later stages of the biggest tournaments we have, it's amazing, no?”
Sinner, the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, wasn’t far from a potential weekend visit from the legendary Laver.
Save Sinner squandering three match points to Alcaraz at Roland Garros, Sinner would be near tennis’ ultimate distinction, winning a Grand Slam—and Laver is too grand of a gentleman not to attend to shake his hand.
Laver did just that when Djokovic was a match shy of the Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open. "The Rocket" was in the house, but Daniil Medvedev took Djokovic to the woodshed, denying him a spot alongside Don Budge and Laver, the only men to achieve the feat.
Sinner’s game is such that some day Laver and Budge might scoot over, making room for the Macchina Lanciapalle.
As Sinner often says, “Let’s see what’s coming.’’
