Roger Federer is back in New York, but this time as a fan rather than a player.
Tennis misses the classy maestro dearly, but in his absence a new crop of superstars has emerged.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz headline this fresh generation, yet Novak Djokovic, Federer’s old rival, inexplicably and remarkably remains in the mix.
However, on this particular occasion, it was the former who was the subject of his interest.
After all, the Italian has been embroiled in controversy upon returning to the US Open…
Roger Federer weighs in on Jannik Sinner’s drugs test controversy
Speaking on NBC’s Today Show ahead of yesterday’s appearance at the US Open, Roger Federer was unsurprisingly welcomed back to New York with open arms.
After all, this is a place where he enjoyed many triumphs across a glittering career, retiring having won this event a whopping five times.
However, whilst some topics of conversation were more lighthearted than others, when it came time to talk about Jannik Sinner’s drug case, the severity of the situation was evident.
Federer then claimed: ‘I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything, but the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 percent sure what was going on, I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered.
‘But look, it is what it is, and we need to trust the process as well of anyone involved here.
‘I understand it’s a tricky situation. It’s the nightmare of every athlete and team to have these allegations and these problems because we fill out these forms all day every day.
‘And it lives with you. Every morning when you wake up, you think, ‘Is somebody at the door coming to test me?’ So it’s really difficult.’
This came just after Federer revealed why he was feeling sorry for Rafael Nadal too…
Jannik Sinner is soaring through the US Open despite turmoil
It is so impressive how Sinner has dispelled all this outside noise, during a tournament that is already famed for its hustle and bustle, to soar into the quarter-finals.
Beating back-to-back Americans to kickstart his campaign, he was particularly dominant against an in-form Alex Michelsen, before then crushing Chris O’Connell of Australia too.
However, upon then reaching the Round of 16, the real challenge has begun.
Facing Tommy Paul, it was expected that the American, backed by a home crowd, might have enough to trouble the 23-year-old.
Alas, a straight-sets defeat was the conclusion, despite the Wimbledon quarter-finalist actually playing exceptionally well.
When on form, few on the ATP tour can compete with Sinner, and it will now be up to Daniil Medvedev to try and quell this unstoppable force.
Were he to go all the way and win this event, it would truly mark an outstanding feat given all the unrest he suffered going into it.
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