Sinner just experienced his first hard-court Grand Slam defeat in two years, snapping a 27-match winning streak at the Australian and US Opens. He lost to his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in a match where Sinner was thoroughly outplayed.

Speaking after losing the US Open final and the world number one ranking, Sinner admitted he was disappointed but not overly discouraged. Instead, the match revealed much to Sinner about himself and his opponent after a year of high-level competition filled with major showdowns. Sinner has consistently demonstrated the ability to bounce back quickly and strongly from setbacks.

Sinner (left) and Alcaraz on the awards podium at the 2025 US Open, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, USA on 7/9. Photo: Reuters

Sinner (left) and Alcaraz on the awards podium at the 2025 US Open, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, USA on 7/9. Photo: Reuters

In early June, Sinner suffered a defeat that could have caused lasting psychological damage. He squandered three championship points in the French Open final before losing to Alcaraz in the fifth set.

After the haunting disappointment in Paris, Sinner returned to Sesto, the small village in the Alps of northeastern Italy where he grew up. His parents and grandfather still live there. That was enough solace for Sinner.

Five weeks later, Sinner defeated Alcaraz to win Wimbledon. Victory at the grass-court Grand Slam has changed the lives of many players before. For Sinner, the 24-year-old received a substantial prize and numerous endorsement deals.

After his glorious peak in England, Sinner returned home, sleeping in his older brother's former room, now little more than a storage space. Every day, Sinner walked, played cards and board games with relatives, or golfed with his father when he wasn't working as a chef at a small local restaurant. Sinner also spent time with friends and drove around enjoying the scenery.

"I take success and failure the same way," Sinner said. "The most important thing is that my family is healthy and we always have a good time together when we reunite. Of course, it's better if I win. But even if I lose, my family is still happy because I'm back. I want to see them, my friends, and the people I care about. I believe this is very important."

Over the years, tennis stars have embraced various identities. Some enjoy partying, others are known for socializing with high society, and some have influence in entertainment or fashion. Sinner is not among them.

The redhead maintains the simple identity of a tennis player, true to his nature, at least for now. Sinner only aspires to be a simple guy from a simple family, the son of a chef, and the younger brother of a firefighter instructor.

But life hasn't been simple for Sinner. In August 2024, Sinner arrived in New York amid the biggest storm of his career when the world learned of his positive doping test, although the results had been available since March. Eventually, Sinner was cleared by authorities due to "no fault or negligence," concluding he did not intentionally use banned substances.

The tennis world was naturally abuzz when the world number one faced serious trouble. Even at the pre-US Open 2024 press conference, the moderator tried to quell related questions. Sinner didn't shy away, attempting to explain the situation. Two weeks later, he won the tournament amidst whispers and skeptical glances.

Sinner speaks after the 2025 US Open final, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, on 7/9. Photo: Reuters

Sinner speaks after the 2025 US Open final, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, on 7/9. Photo: Reuters

The storm didn't let up when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sought a harsher penalty, at least a two-year ban, arguing Sinner should be held responsible whether unintentional or not. Sinner's future again faced a bleak outlook just as he had reached medal-winning heights at the ATP Finals, Davis Cup, and Australian Open.

"Last year I was in a very tense and difficult situation, especially when it happened right before a Grand Slam," Sinner recalled. "It was very hard to handle everything. You know, I'm still young."

Finally, WADA reached an agreement with Sinner for a three-month ban. Upon his return, he was welcomed as a hero at his home event, the Rome Masters. He played as if he had been competing regularly at the top level, advancing to the final and losing only to Alcaraz.

Five weeks later, Sinner and his Spanish rival produced a classic match at the French Open, officially elevating both players to new heights in men's tennis. And on the next big stage, the pair continued to assert their dominance over the rest of the field by reaching the Wimbledon final, where Sinner triumphed. It's been a long journey since he left the 2024 US Open.

Sinner could wax poetic, saying he often dreamed of such glorious moments, but he wouldn't because it would be a lie. Growing up in the mountain town of Sesto, young Sinner never entertained the wild dream of becoming a Wimbledon champion. What he has achieved has truly exceeded all his expectations.

Sinner's humility is nurtured by his family. Sinner's father, Hanspeter, missed the French Open final due to his work at the restaurant. This is also why it was difficult for Hanspeter to attend his son's matches at the US Open, as the tournament coincided with the tourist season in the Dolomites, making restaurants even busier.

Sinner's mother, Siglinde, no longer works as a waitress but manages a few rental apartments. Unlike her husband, Siglinde was present when Sinner reached the finals in Rome, Paris, and London. It was a promise she made to her son, although she admitted she preferred watching on television because watching live was too stressful. At the Rome Masters, spectators saw Siglinde leave the stadium after Sinner lost the first set to Tommy Paul.

Sinner (white) goes up to the stands to celebrate with his mother, Siglinde, after winning Wimbledon 2025. Photo: Reuters

Sinner (white) goes up to the stands to celebrate with his mother, Siglinde, after winning Wimbledon 2025. Photo: Reuters

"It's just a tennis match, the worst thing is to lose," Sinner calmly stated about his life philosophy. "You can't live in this sport for 15, 20 years and always be stressed. So I always tell myself that I'm already lucky, the important thing is that I and my family are healthy. With tennis, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

That's Sinner's philosophy, a player who possesses many refined qualities but also lives simply: win or lose, Jannik returns home before embarking on his next journey.

Vy Anh