By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, June 4, 2024Picture credit score: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Earlier than Jannik Sinner secured his semifinal spot, he scaled a large skilled peak.
Novak Djokovic withdrew from Roland Garros at this time resulting from a torn medial meniscus in his proper knee.
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The Grand Slam king’s departure ends his reign as Roland Garros champion and as world No. 1.
World No. 2 Sinner, who swept Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(3) to achieve his maiden French Open semifinal will supplant Djokovic as new world No. 1—and develop into first Italian to carry the highest spot—when the brand new rankings are launched on Monday.
“What can I say? To begin with it’s each participant’s dream to develop into No. 1 on the earth,” Sinner mentioned in his on-court interview with ATP afterward. “Within the different manner, seeing Novak retiring right here I believe is disappointing. I want him a speedy restoration.”
Persevering with his season-long elevation, the 22-year-old Sinner mentioned he is thrilled to be new world No. 1 although he did not wish to understand his dream on Djokovic’s harm.
Whereas Sinner celebrates his rise to the highest of the world, he targets two targets better than world No. 1: bettering as an individual and as a participant to meet his prodigious potential.
“It represents an amazing results of work ethic,” Sinner informed Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim of his rise to the highest. “It was one in all our targets this 12 months, however crucial aim is to all the time enhance as a participant and as an individual, surrounding myself with nice folks and that is it.
“I believe I might be very pleased and happy with what I am doing and what my crew is doing. Simply wanting ahead to semis in the meanwhile. It is not, for positive, the way in which I wished to develop into No. 1 as Novak was retiring, however within the final interval I performed some actually good tennis. I am pleased to be in that place. It is one thing new arising for me. It is one thing good, so I am very pleased.”
Sinner would be the twenty ninth man to carry the world No. 1 rating for the reason that creation of the ATP rankings.
The 22-year-old Sinner will journey a 12-match main profitable streak into the semifinals in opposition to both Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz or 2021 French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas as Roland Garros is assured of a maiden males’s singles champion for the primary time since 2016 when Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in 4 units.
Australian Open champion Sinner improved to 33-2 in 2024, together with an 11-1 mark on clay.
Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev mentioned Sinner is now the sport’s gold customary and will reign as world No. 1 “for the subsequent 10 years” if he can maintain the lofty stage he is delivered in 2024.
If he retains it like that, then he is not solely going to be No. 1 on the earth, he will be No. 1 on the earth for the subsequent 10 years,” Zverev mentioned in Madrid final month. “However it’s as much as him and it is also as much as me, as much as Carlos, as much as Daniil, as much as Novak as effectively to cease him from doing that.
“In fact he is someone that we now most likely look out for, you recognize, one in all two or three gamers that we glance out for probably the most. We examine him, we attempt to perceive his recreation, we attempt to perceive what could make him really feel uncomfortable. And we’ll see if we will use it.”
Sinner’s rise to the highest is one other milestone for completed co-coach Darren Cahiill, who works alongside fellow co-coach Simone Vagnozzi, on Crew Sinner.
Home of Gucci Ambassador Sinner is the fourth participant Cahill has coached to world No. 1 following Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep.
Picture credit score: Corleve/Mark Peterson
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