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Journalism of Courage
Ivan Ljubicic, former world number 3 and former coach of Roger Federer, has slammed the Cincinnati tournament for making players play through extreme heat. In the final, Jannik Sinner pulled out against Carlos Alcaraz, after just four games in the first set. He attributed it to “illness” but it’s been speculated that perhaps the conditions got to him.
“What we saw in Cincinnati is sobering. I can’t understand why they insist on playing in that heat and humidity. The athletes risk injury, and the fans aren’t having fun. Something has to be done,” Ljubicic told La Gazzetta.
Lhubicic also answered a direct question if Sinner has any weaknesses in his body. “For me, these are unrelated cases. Jannik had a hip problem that he fixed, then he was just unlucky: the fall on his elbow, the alleged virus. It doesn’t mean his body is fragile at all.”
He also dwelt on the Sinner vs Alcaraz rivalry and how it’s bound to play out in the rest of the year. First up, he talked about Sinner. “He lacks nothing. It’s true that his serve is his least natural shot, but every champion has a sort of fixation on the shot where he feels least prepared. For Jannik, it’s his serve, even though he’s improved a lot.”
He then praised Alcaraz’s ability to be consistent in results even if his performances remain inconsistent. “He’s found consistency in his results, because his performances are always a bit inconsistent. The big difference since Sinner returned from suspension is that the Spaniard has found a way to win even those matches where he can’t quite get his moves right. It’s the natural development of a player who, let’s not forget, is only 22.”
Crystal-gazing at the US Open, Ljubicic believes the fast courts in New York might be the big factor if the two players go at each other again.
“The surface is very important. At Wimbledon, for example, Sinner pushed Alcaraz’s forehand a lot: it works on grass, but not on clay. The courts in New York are usually quite fast: high trajectories don’t pay off, you have to move very well and be at 110% physically. This is a tournament that demands a lot and requires aggressive tennis. Both players practice it; in Alcaraz’s case, the variations of pronounced topspin and drop shots pay off a little less. We’ll also have to see the level of his serve.
“Excluding Cincinnati, Alcaraz is ahead 5-2 in their head-to-head matches on hard courts. At the same time, Sinner plays his best on this surface. All things considered, I’d say they’d start on equal terms, especially since their matches are always very close. They’re certainly clearly ahead of everyone else; I’d be surprised if they didn’t make it to the final, with Jannik’s health still a question mark.
