Jannik Sinner is on track to defend his US Open title after reaching the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows, New York.
Sinner has been backed for US Open glory, which would represent a fifth Grand Slam success for the Italian.
The ATP number one has dropped just one set at the US Open so far, and plays compatriot Lorenzo Musetti next.
Sinner is focusing on his own tennis at the hard-court tournament, which he won this time last year for his second Grand Slam title.
He won the Australian Open either side of the success at Flushing Meadows, before adding the Wimbledon title to his honours list.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesCoco Gauff’s former coach shocked by US Open quarterfinalist Jannik Sinner
Sinner defeated two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in London earlier this year, having lost the French Open final to the Spaniard shortly before.
And the Italian’s efforts have caught the eye of Coco Gauff’s former coach Brad Gilbert, who said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast: “I thought in 2022 when Alcaraz won here first, it took me back, that maybe this guy is going to jump in.
“And then in 2023 Djoker (Novak Djokovic) re-established himself. If you had told me at the start of 2024 that Djokovic would not win one from that point I would have said no way.
“But it’s not like Alcaraz and Sinner have been given anything. These two guys have taken it and run with it. If you put Andre [Agassi] and Djokovic in a blender, you get Sinner. His level is outrageous right now.
“I am just shocked. Honestly, what is even more surprising is that I don’t think he is anywhere near the finished product. If you are 24 years old and you are satisfied with where you are, then that is what happens to you.
“If you are 24 years old like Sinner, who seems to be a much older soul than he is, and he is always focused on talking about the narrative that he doesn’t think he’s that good, I need to get better.
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“Rafa [Nadal] was like that. He is very humble. He is very motivated to get better. I think the fact that he has somebody in Alcaraz that he knows, that if he doesn’t get better, might eclipse him. I think that keeps him motivated and that’s for everybody else now to potentially get in the mix.
“I don’t think it’s possible at this moment, unless I’m wrong, that anybody could beat those two guys back-to-back. That is how good they are.
“I hate comparing them to the big three, because they were amazing, but these two guys now are taking it and they are 24 and 22, maybe we look back in 10 years and it’ll be the next two.
“But honestly I thought we would be in a three to five year of [parity]. Of who would be the guy? Well, they have erased that.”
Men’s Grand Slam champions since 2023
The Big Three of Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer truly took men’s tennis to another planet, with the trio having dominated the ATP Tour for several years.
That iconic Big Three is, of course, no longer, with Federer and Nadal having retired from the sport, leaving as legendary figures.
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The Swiss star called time on his career with 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, just behind the 22 of the Spanish icon.
Djokovic still remains, and intriguingly now takes on Alcaraz in the US Open quarterfinals as he chases a 25th Grand Slam title.
YearAustralian OpenFrench OpenWimbledonUS Open2023Novak DjokovicNovak DjokovicCarlos AlcarazNovak Djokovic2024Jannik SinnerCarlos AlcarazCarlos AlcarazJannik Sinner2025Jannik SinnerCarlos AlcarazJannik SinnerMen’s Grand Slam champions since 2023
Hugely impressively, he has been the only player other than Sinner to challenge Alcaraz since his maiden title at the 2022 US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season.
But Sinner and Alcaraz stand alone from 2024 onwards, with the duo combining to win all seven titles available.