After the conclusion of the women’s US Open final, with Aryna Sabalenka crushing America’s hope by ousting Jessica Pegula, it’s men’s turn. As Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner get ready for the ultimate showdown of the year in New York, an old yet quirky video resurfaced on social media, with Fritz’s girlfriend, Morgan Riddle, grabbing eyes with her words. Why did Riddle call Sinner ‘cute’? However, tennis fans might be curious to know how did Fritz react to it!

At the cusp of the US Open men’s final, a tennis fan shared an interesting video clip from the popular Netflix series, “Break Point,” Episode 3, connecting it with the current scenario. The clip shared was in the backdrop of the Indian Wells 2023 quarterfinals, where Sinner and Fritz were set to clash with each other. It captured Riddle and Fritz discussing Sinner’s game back then. The video was shared, with the following dialogues in the caption.

While sorting out food for both of them, Riddle asks Fritz, “How is Sinner playing right now?” Maybe trying to gauge which way the match would proceed. Fritz calmly replies, “I think he has been playing well all year.” As the pair sat at the table to devour the food prepared, the social media influencer said, “I think it will be a fun match. He’s fun to watch, he’s so cute.” This statement had Fritz laughing while leaving him almost speechless. As Fritz responds with one word, “God!” while Riddle reiterates her words, “He is.”

Fritz’s words could be applied to the current scenario! Sinner has been consistent throughout the year, barring a few hiccups here and there. The Italian tennis star had a terrific start to the year, as he claimed the Australian Open title. Followed by winning another title at Rotterdam, Netherlands, Miami Masters, and Halle Open. However, his clay season and grass season were marked by disappointment.

He was unable to proceed to the finals of the Roland Garros and made an early exit at the Wimbledon championships. However, he made a successful comeback right in time to win the Cincinnati Open and proceed to the final of the US Open. Hence, what Fritz said back in 2023 is applicable in 2024. Presenting a daunting challenge against him to win his first Grand Slam.

However, amongst all the rosy wins, there was a massive thorn of doping scandal which marred his Cincinnati win, and the beginning of the US Open campaign.

 “Cute” Jannik Sinner’s doping scandal has got a new dimension

The infamous doping scandal surrounding the World No.1 ATP player refuses to die down. Even after the ITIA announced the verdict in Sinner in Sinner’s favor, the discontent among various players in the circuit is quite evident. For the unversed, Sinner tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of Clostebol, a steroid that can be used to build muscle mass, during the 2024 Indian Wells.

ITIA had said that Sinner’s positive test was “a result of contamination from a support team member. Who had been applying an over-the-counter spray containing Clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound.” However, the murmurs of discontent with the verdict are still lingering in the air.

Sinner may have breathed a sigh of relief as the deadline to appeal the judgment, by WADA or Italian Doping Agency (NADO), September 6th has passed away. However, as per an Italian publication, liberoquotidiano.it, “WADA would have until midnight on Monday 9 Sept – the day after the end of the US Open – to present the appeal to the CAS, the sports court in Lausanne, against the ITIA ruling , exactly 21 days after the ITIA ruling of 19 August.”

It will be interesting to see if Sinner could put all this aside and be the first Italian man to win the US Open title.