Daniil Medvedev has been there or thereabouts for a while now, losing in four major finals while winning one, but it’s probably fair to say there will never be a Medvedev era. He’s a brilliant player, of course, but not brilliant enough to refocus an entire sport and make it solely about him; at best, he’s an interregnum commander, handily placed to elevate his career with big pots by hitting his peak just as the greatest of all time fades.
Jannik Sinner, however, stands out as a unique individual – a 22-year-old with exceptional physical and mental abilities, but still not performing at his peak. On Friday, he easily defeated Djokovic, almost as if it was his destiny. If he triumphs in this competition, we may reflect back on today as the moment when everything changed and a new hierarchy was formed.
According to another perspective, this could simply be a temporary setback, as Djokovic could make a comeback in Paris, Wimbledon, and New York to dominate once more. However, for now, this situation will be exciting.
