Jannik Sinner made shock Serena Williams request ahead of U.S. Open
It has been revealed that Jannik Sinner wanted to play the upcoming revamped U.S. Open mixed doubles with the legendary Serena Williams.
Monday saw the World No.1 have to retire during the final of the Cincinnati Open against Carlos Alcaraz due to illness. Sinner trailed the opening set 5-0 before having to withdraw from the match, which prompted Alcaraz to show his class following his rival’s retirement.
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The pair had already faced off three times previously this year, with Alcaraz winning the Italian and French Open before Sinner got his revenge by defeating the Spaniard at Wimbledon. But, their attentions will now turn to the upcoming revamped U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament, before taking part in the main event the following week.
Alcaraz will be partnered up with Emma Raducanu, while Sinner is set to partner Katerina Sinikova. Siniakova and Sinner are set to face Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev today in the two-day competition.
However, it remains unclear whether or not Sinner will participate in the tournament given his recent retirement. He could opt to look to withdraw, so as to allow himself to recover fully for the U.S. Open, a tournament he won for the first time last year.
And it has now been revealed Sinner originally wanted to team up with the legendary Williams, despite her having retired from tennis back in 2022. Speaking on the ‘Nothing Major’ podcast, the U.S. Open’s Senior Director of Player Relations, Eric Butorac, revealed Sinner asked if he could play alongside the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
“Yeah, Sinner did ask if Serena would be an option,” Butorac said. However, he also explained that it would not have been possible, as players coming out of retirement need to follow doping protocols that can take up to six months.
“I believe Serena’s not back in the doping protocol,” added Butorac.
Following his retirement from the final of the Cincinnati Open, Sinner apologized to the fans in attendance. “I’m super sorry to disappoint you,” said Sinner. “From yesterday I didn’t feel great, I thought I would improve but it came up worse.
He added: “I tried to come out, to make it at least a small match, but I couldn’t handle more. I am very sorry for all of you. I know that maybe some of you, on a Monday, you had to work or do something else, so I’m really sorry.
“Now I will take a couple of days to recover, then I will get back to work, hoping to be ready. The US Open [singles] is my main goal in the United States.”
