Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have struck up an almighty rivalry across the last 12 months, realistically since the latter won their match at Wimbledon.
That semi-final victory seemed to spark something inside the Italian, which he has been unleashing ever since.
This culminated in his first-ever Grand Slam title in Melbourne earlier this year.
Coming into New York, he was once again expected to challenge, but again many thought he might face unstoppable pushback from Carlos Alcaraz and the history-chasing Novak Djokovic.
Alas, both are now out, yet Jannik Sinner still agrees with something the latter had to say.
Jannik Sinner agrees with Novak Djokovic claim
Speaking to reporters after his most recent win over Chris O’Connell, in which he crushed the Australian in straight sets, naturally attention did not rest on that match for very long.
After all, it took him no time at all to brush aside his opponent, shipping just seven games across all three sets.
Asked by one reporter after reaching the fourth round about how Novak Djokovic found that he never felt safe as world number one, which in turn spurred him on to progress even further, Sinner related to that claim massively.
He replied: ‘Yeah I agree with that. If you want to stay in the position that you are you have to improve. If you want to improve the ranking and the way you play also you have to improve even more.
‘There are always players who push it to the limit, who you understand where you have to improve. I think that’s the best part. This is all part of the process where you have to go through, and we try to do that. There are some things where you agree, you don’t agree, but it’s a good process to make.
‘It means that I care and I want to get better as a player.’
Jannik Sinner is hot favourite for the US Open
Despite a shaky start to his US Open campaign, falling a set and a break down against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round, since then he has been flawless.
In fact, he is yet to drop a set, having now won nine on the bounce going into his next match with Tommy Paul.
By far the trickiest of all the opponents he has faced in New York thus far, the American will be backed by a raucous home support that could unnerve the 23-year-old.
However, his patented, hard-hitting brand of tennis is impossible to deny at times, and having already overcome some almighty mental struggles in the past couple of weeks, a little pushback from the fans should be a walk in the park in comparison.
After all, Sinner remains embroiled in a drug testing scandal, even if he has been cleared of his positive test.
But, having seen Alcaraz and Djokovic both knocked out in quick succession, he will arguably never get an easier run at a Grand Slam title.
He is the outstanding favourite now, and must live up to that pressure as well.
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