19/07/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 19, 2025

29

Quiet man of tennis

Sinner ice-cold on court, mild-mannered off it

J ANNIK SINNER is the quiet man of tennis who has become a big noise, burnishing his

returned to the court in May, reaching the final of the Italian Open, where he was beaten by Alcaraz. Next on his schedule was the French Open and again he reached the title match, this time suffering heartbreak as Alcaraz came back from two sets down, saving three match points to defend his title. That gave the Spaniard an 8-4 lead in the rivalry between the pair and was his fifth straight win. But the tables were turned on Sunday as Sinner showed impressive mental strength to come back after losing the first set. Sinner was born in German-speaking San Candido, in northern Italy, near the border with Austria. A career in professional tennis was not a given. He was a champion skier as a youngster and still enjoys the sport in the off-season. He was also a keen footballer. The right-hander, who stands 1.9m tall, won his first title indoors in Sofia in 2020. The 2024 season was his breakthrough year as he collected his first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, and followed up with seven other titles including the US Open. He became world No. 1 – and the first Italian to reach top spot – in June last year. Sinner’s super-power is his extraordinary ability to stay calm on court. “I know he’s just 23 years of age, but sometimes it feels like he’s much older and wiser than what we are,” said his coach Darren Cahill. “He’s an incredible young man.” Sinner makes no secret of the fact that he loves the job he has chosen. “I’m very lucky because tennis started off a hobby when I was young, and now it becomes my job,” he said. “In my mind it’s still a hobby. I love to go on court and just play. points to his name, less than half of Russell’s. However, his potential is clearly great, and the Mercedes team principal does not want to risk losing him to a rival. “Russell has said in an interview that from his point of view, he is a Mercedes driver next year,” Patrese said. “Nobody told him anything different, and that Toto had always been very loyal to him. “So, he’s waiting with faith. Kimi (Antonelli) is also a driver protected by Toto. Only Toto knows how it’s going to be! I am very close to Kimi. I know him very well since my son Lorenzo was karting with him. “I am very close to the Antonelli family. I am a fan of Kimi, but if I were Toto, if I have to build the team for next year, I will keep Russell and Verstappen. “Kimi looks very promising, but he still has to learn a little bit. Russell, I think, is already in a league, maybe not quite in Verstappen’s league, but of course, if you have to choose a driver just below and put beside Verstappen, I should choose. I say that even though my heart for sure is with Kimi.” While Patrese believes that keeping Russell would be the sensible move for Wolff, he doesn’t doubt the rookie’s blistering pace. In fact, he believes that, given another six months to develop, he could be ready for the challenge. “Russell is a top driver already, and Kimi has already put pressure on him, and sometimes he is quicker than he is,” Patrese continued. “If Verstappen comes, Antonelli will have had one year of Formula One. During the winter, he can sleep a little bit and think about the mistakes he made. So he can digest everything, the things he did good, the things he did bad.” – Express Newspapers “There is no better place to do it than in big stadiums wzith packed crowd.” – AFP

reaching his fourth successive major final at Wimbledon this year – a run that started with the US Open last season. Sinner defended his Australian Open title in Melbourne in January but his career was put on hold after that as he served a three-month ban for twice testing positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol last year. Sinner has

legacy on Sunday by winning his first Wimbledon title. The Italian beat his fierce rival Carlos

always maintained the product entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing it to treat a cut. The World Anti Doping Agency said “Sinner did not intend to cheat” but that he

Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6 4, 6-4 in the latest instalment of their captivating rivalry to claim his fourth Grand Slam at the age of 23.

The pair are the new dominant forces in men’s tennis, sharing the past seven Grand Slams between them as the memory of the “Big Three” era fades. While Alcaraz is the flashy showman of the game, adored by the fans for his high-risk, high reward tennis, Sinner stays ice cold on the court and mild mannered off it. His game is based on relentless power and accuracy from the baseline, resembling

would serve his suspension as he is responsible for the actions of his entourage. Sinner

that of 24 time Grand S l a m champion N o v a k Djokovic. T h e Italian is getting used to life at the t o p ,

Jannik Sinner. – REUTERSPIC

Wolff told to make Russell U-turn

Source in slipstream explains Max exit talks NELSON PIQUET JR , who is the brother of Max Verstappen’s partner, Kelly, has offered an insight into what he has “heard” about the Dutchman’s exit talks at Red Bull. “He wanted to maintain control over everything, both teams, over the engines; he wanted to be in control of everything. But for him, it was a win-win situation.

FORMER Benetton and Williams F1 driver Riccardo Patrese believes that Toto Wolff should consider putting Kimi Antonelli on the sidelines to lure in Max Verstappen, rather than risking George Russell’s long-term Mercedes future. Russell has enjoyed an exceptional first half of the 2025 season, carrying his form from the back end of 2024 but notching four podiums and one race victory in the first 12 races. This leaves him just 18 points behind four time world champion Verstappen in the standings. Despite this, however, Russell remains out of contract at the end of the year.

“If he gets all the power, for him, it’s a huge moral issue. And if he doesn’t, he gets a huge amount of money, almost US$100 million (RM420m). “Maybe part of that is psychological, so they can get rid of him and hire this list of people back. It’s not just because of Max.” Concerns about a brain drain in Milton Keynes are well

According to the former Renault F1 star, Christian Horner’s influence had a negative impact on the team’s hiring power. The long-serving team principal was sacked last week, with Red Bull trying desperately to convince star driver Verstappen to stay. The 27-year-old has won each of the last four Drivers’ Championship titles, but with the RB21 heading the wrong way in terms of performance, that run looks set to end in 2025. With question marks about Red Bull’s ability to hit the ground running in 2026, Verstappen has been in talks with Mercedes regarding a move to Brackley. It remains unclear which way the Dutchman is currently leaning, but Toto Wolff is keeping the door open as the summer break draws nearer. Offering his knowledge on the subject, Piquet Jr, who made 28 starts for Renault between 2008 and 2009, told the Pelas Pistas podcast: “What’s the reason they are struggling to keep Max? “I heard it’s (that) they have difficulty bringing some key people back or hiring. Because some didn’t like the team environment. “Those little problems came up between him and Max’s father. In a way, it bothered some people, and for them to bring the people they want back, some felt that, with Christian there, it would be more difficult. “That’s what people have been saying. It was about sharing tasks a little bit more, and Horner didn’t want to do that.

founded. Aside from Horner, Red Bull have lost Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Adrian Newey since 2023, with

This is due to ongoing contract talks with Verstappen, who Wolff believes he can lure away from rivals Red Bull amid long-running behind-the-scenes turmoil in Milton Keynes. On pure performance, it would make sense for Wolff to sideline Antonelli instead, if Verstappen can be snatched from Red Bull. The Italian has scored a podium in his rookie year, but has only 6 3

the spine of the organisation that dominated the start of the ground effect era now working elsewhere. A decision is not expected until the summer break, with Verstappen waiting to see how the incoming RB21 upgrades affect the car’s performance. According to La Gazzetta

dello Sport , Mercedes Benz CEO Ola Kallenius has already given the move the green light, so Red Bull will be under immense pressure in Belgium and Hungary. – Express Newspapers

Max Verstappen. – REUTERSPIC