Jannik Sinner just won his first title since Wimbledon at the China Open, and he absolutely dominated American Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2. It wasn’t even close.
But here’s something pretty fascinating that most fans probably haven’t noticed about the Italian star.
The Water Bottle Mystery
Every single time Sinner opens a new water bottle, he spills a little bit on the ground before taking a drink.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | 24 | 15,405 | 33 - 3 |
A tennis fan account on X caught this weird habit and made a video showing three different instances. Once during a match, once in practice, and another time during competition. So it’s not just something he does when the cameras are rolling – this is a real routine for him.
The video shows him consistently doing this little ritual every time he cracks open a fresh bottle.
Nobody really knows why he does it. Sinner’s never explained it publicly, and honestly, it’s not exactly the most common superstition you see on the tennis court.
Sometimes players just develop these habits that feel right to them, even if there’s no logical reason behind it. Sinner also won’t step on the lines between points – another one of his quirks.
The Real Drama: Fighting for No. 1
While we’re talking about Sinner’s habits, there’s way bigger drama happening in his tennis career right now.
Carlos Alcaraz knocked him out of the top spot after beating him in the US Open final this year. That was actually their third straight Grand Slam final meeting in 2025, which is pretty incredible when you think about it.
The rivalry between these two has been absolutely insane this year.
Alcaraz pulled off one of the most shocking comebacks ever at the French Open, saving three championship points to beat Sinner. Then Sinner got his revenge at Wimbledon, coming back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
But at the US Open, Alcaraz was just too good. He won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, and honestly, it looked even more dominant than the score suggests.
Time’s Running Out
Now Sinner’s in a really tough spot if he wants to get back to No. 1 before the year ends.
Alcaraz won the Japan Open the day before Sinner’s victory in Beijing, so they’re both racking up points right now.
The problem for Sinner? He’s got a massive number of points to defend from last year’s Shanghai Masters and ATP Finals, where he won both tournaments in 2024.
Alcaraz doesn’t have nearly as many points to defend.
Sinner basically has to win Shanghai to keep his year-end No. 1 hopes alive. There’s really no other path at this point.
The good news? Alcaraz just withdrew from the Shanghai Masters, which definitely improves Sinner’s chances.
Whether his water bottle ritual will help him get there – well, that’s anyone’s guess. But hey, if it’s worked this far, why change it now?
