Jannik Sinner Promises Not to Use Banned Item Told to Remove by Umpire During Australian Open
Jannik Sinner will be clashing with his quarterfinal opponent, Ben Shelton, for the ninth time in his career.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)
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Jannik Sinner was one of the players in the Australian Open told to remove a fitness tracker from his wrist by the umpire. The fitness band, by Whoop, helps in measuring data such as respiratory rate, heart rate, strain, recovery, sleep, etc.
It’s not clear why players cannot use the screenless band. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were also caught using the device. Sinner, following his straight-set win over countryman Luciano Darderi, was asked about the apparatus at the press conference. The Italian said rules are rules and promised never to use it again.
There is certain data we would like to track a bit on court. It’s more about that you can see after the match. This is data we would like to use also in practice sessions. Heart rate, how much calories you burn, all these kinds of things. I mean, the umpire asked me straightaway if this is the tracker. I said yes, and he said, remove it. It’s fine. There are other things you could use…the vest, but it’s a bit uncomfortable because you feel like you have something on the shoulders, and it’s different.
The match before Darderi saw Sinner suffer from severe cramps, but thanks to the heat rule, he got 10 minutes to cool down. Upon his comeback, he knocked out Eliot Spizzirri in four sets to make the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth time.
Jannik Sinner sets up his quarterfinal clash with Ben Shelton
It was Ben Shelton whom Jannik Sinner knocked out in straight sets in the semifinals of last year’s Melbourne Slam. The two youngsters will be squaring off against each other on January 28 in the last of eight in the ongoing Major.
The four-time Grand Slam champion boasts an 8-1 head-to-head lead over the American ace. But Shelton, when asked what would be different in his match against Sinner compared to their previous meetings, talked about the huge advantage he thinks he has against the World No.2.
I think my game is a lot different. I think the way that I’m executing, one, at the net is going to be a huge advantage to me. I think the way that I’m mixing things up from the baseline is a lot different than a year ago. I struggled to find my rhythm tonight. You know, it was my first time playing at night since I’ve been here, and the conditions were completely different. But I got through four-set win, and for the most part, since I’ve been here, I’ve never hit my forehand this good. I feel like I have great control.
Ben Shelton said at the press conference
Shelton, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, will be playing in the last at Melbourne Park for the third time in his career. The 23-year-old is chasing his career’s fourth title. Last year, he lifted his career’s first Big Title by defeating Karen Khachanov at the Canadian Open.
Sinner is bidding to become the second man in the Open Era to win three back-to-back trophies in the Major Down Under. The first man to achieve this feat is Novak Djokovic, whom he will face in the semifinals if he beats Shelton and the Serb goes past Lorenzo Musetti.
Sinner lifted his career’s first Major at the 2024 Australian Open after battling past Daniil Medvedev. Last year, he defended his crown against Alexander Zverev with a straight-set win. Sinner then made the finals of the remaining three Majors, losing to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open and the US Open, and winning the Wimbledon title by denying the three-peat to the six-time Grand Slam champion.
Also read: (Video) Jelena Ostapenko Furiously Hits the Ball at her Australian Open Opponent in a Tense Moment
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