Except when he starts to hit and turns rivals into wincing punching bags. He hits with a fluent aggressiveness from every side and any angle, moving as if his sneakers are greased while absorbing every blow.
He hits fiercely yet good-naturedly and because there's no villainous bone in him even the New Yorkers cheered him on Sunday. He hits till you tire and have nothing in return and an awkward truth emerges as it did for Taylor Fritz. You're just not at his level.
"He is much faster (than before)," said a generous Fritz after the US Open final which he lost 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. "He's such an amazing ball striker." The fellow who gave out the trophy would concur. Sinner has a master's degree in making the tennis ball speak a tough language, Andre Agassi had a few PhDs.
It's September, the Grand Slam season has ended, and if you love tennis then you're grinning. Because the story of the year is clear: In the red corner is Sinner (Australian and US Open winner). In the blue corner is Carlos Alcaraz (French Open and Wimbledon champion). Respectfully pick a side. Because in 2024 the bell for a title fight which may take 10 years to conclude has clearly rung.
Esta historia es de la edición September 10, 2024 de The Straits Times.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 10, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
