Boris Becker has his feelings known on Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka's future partnership as a pair after latest development
Boris Becker has made an interesting suggestion to Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka after taking note of their identical journeys in 2024 following their China Open exits. According to his latest remark, the six-time Grand Slam champion is eager to see the duo share the court as a pair.
Sinner and Sabalenka, the men’s and women’s top seeds, respectively, at the 2024 China Open, failed to win the tournament. Jannik Sinner, the defending champion at the ATP 500 event, was edged out by Carlos Alcaraz in the final, while Aryna Sabalenka was outclassed by Karolina Muchova in the WTA 1000 quarterfinal.
Interestingly, both players, known for their hardcourt prowess, were on a 15-match-winning streak, having won the Cincinnati Open and the US Open before their campaigns in Beijing. The pair, which also simultaneously clinched the Australian Open earlier this year, were chasing their 17th career title at the China Open.
Boris Becker took note of Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka’s near-identical paths and suggested that the two share the court for a mixed-doubles partnership.
"They should play mixed together!" Boris Becker wrote on X.
Becker has been supportive of Sinner and Sabalenka, publicly endorsing the players’ achievements. The six-time Grand Slam champion also shared heartwarming words of acknowledgement following their US Open heroics.
Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka to continue their campaigns in China after Beijing defeats
Jannik Sinner has shifted his focus to the ongoing Shanghai Masters following his runner-up finish at the China Open.
He is on the hunt for his fourth Masters 1000 title and third of the season, having been the champion in Miami and Cincinnati. Overall, he is in pursuit of a staggering seventh title in 2024.
The World No. 1 received a bye in the opening round and is set to start his run against Japan’s Taro Daniel in the second round on Saturday, October 5. With the ATP race to the year-end No. 1 heating up, Sinner, who leads No. 2 Alcaraz by 2820 points in the live race, will hope to make a deep run at the tournament.
Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka is now gearing up for the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open (October 7–13), where she chases her fourth title of the season. She is the two-time champion at the event, having won the tournament’s most recent two editions in 2018 and 2019.
The Belarusian, who was briefly ranked World No. 1 in 2023, is vying for her maiden year-end No. 1 finish, just like Sinner. She presently trails Iga Swiatek by just 194 points in the live race. Considering Swiatek’s recent withdrawals, Sabalenka will fancy her chances of surpassing the Pole after the Wuhan Open.