Jannik Sinner accused of using dark tactics in US Open

Jannik Sinner has been accused of using dirty tactics to kill Felix Auger-Aliassime's momentum in their US Open semifinal after taking a medical timeout before the third set. Sinner, 24, the defending US Open champion, won the first set 6-1, but an uncharacteristically poor second set saw the Canadian draw level 6-3.

Upon returning to his chair, a physio attended to Sinner, appearing to work on the four-time Grand Slam winner's right arm, before the pair departed the court for a medical timeout. After a short absence, Sinner darted back out into the Stadium to resume play, where he looked his usual self, winning the third set 6-3, sending the game into a fourth.

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However, some US Open viewers have accused Sinner of "gamesmanship," with his injury timeout designed to disrupt the then-surging Auger-Aliassime. "Yup, tried to slow Felix's momentum," one tweeted.

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"Clear as day gamesmanship… clearly threatened," another accused. "Just completely kills the momentum for Felix," a third reacted. "And now Sinner is flying around the court," a fourth said, referring to Sinner's third-set revival.

Sinner is hoping to book his spot in a fifth consecutive Slam final dating back to his US Open win last year. The Italian won the Australian Open in February, made a final appearance at Roland-Garros against Carlos Alcaraz, and won at Wimbledon.

A win over Auger-Aliassime would set up a third consecutive Slam final meeting with Alcaraz, showcasing the pair's dominance on the ATP Tour. Novak Djokovic is the last man to win a slam outside of Sinner and Alcaraz (2023 US Open.

Alcaraz defeated 24-time Slam winner Djokovic in straight sets before Sinner took to the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 22-year-old is searching for a sixth Grand Slam at his young age.

Alcaraz also holds a 9-5 advantage over Sinner in overall meetings. "I think he, in the way -- I think physically he has improved a lot, and that's obviously," Alcaraz said about Sinner. "I mean, it wasn't a secret.

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"He has spoken about the physical conditions that he has to improve, and I think the last year, the last two years, he has improved a lot physically. You know, his matches are really demanding physically that he's able to play at his 100% during two, three, four hours, and I think that's the biggest improvement he has made in the last years."

A Sinner-Alcaraz final would also be a decider for who leaves Flushing Meadows as the Men's Singles World No. 1. Sinner currently holds the position he has held since June 2024.

The decider will also be played in front of President Donald Trump, who will attend Sunday's final in New York. Alcaraz has described the President's pending presence as "great for tennis."

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