Jannik Sinner asked if Serena Williams would come out of retirement to play with him in the US Open mixed doubles, according to Eric Butorac.
Sinner, who clinched the Wimbledon singles title in July, is set to play with Katerina Siniakova in the revamped 16-team event at Flushing Meadows.
Siniakova and Sinner are due to face Belinda Bencic and Alexander Zverev in the first round today (Tuesday, August 19) – but the Italian world No.1’s participation in the two-day competition has been thrown into doubt.
Sinner was forced to retire from his Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz on Monday due to illness – thought to be a stomach problem – and says he will need ‘a couple of days of recovery’ before the singles get underway on Sunday.
Sinner originally wanted to team up with 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams for the mixed doubles, despite her retirement from tennis in 2022.
That’s according to the US Open’s Senior Director of Player Relations, Butorac, who revealed Sinner’s request on the Nothing Major podcast.
‘Yeah, Sinner did ask if Serena would be an option,’ Butorac said when asked if there had been any chance of Williams playing in the event.
Will Serena Williams come out of retirement?
Venus Williams was quizzed in July if her younger sister Serena Williams, 43, would make a remarkable return to WTA Tour one day.
Asked about her sister’s potential comeback, Venus said: ‘She can take six months off and she clocks it clean. You can’t teach that kind of talent. She’s just so good. I don’t know what she’s going to do.
‘I don’t ask those questions. I think we always hit the ball, because that’s who we are, we’re always hitting. Quite frankly, it’s great cardio. You get great legs and great arms from tennis, quiet as it’s kept. So obviously that’s part of her goal too is to stay in shape.
‘I mean, I keep saying to my team, ‘The only thing that would make this better is if she was here,’ like we always did everything together, so of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I’m sure she’ll let y’all know.’
Butorac went on to explain that Williams would not have been able to play in the US Open mixed doubles at such late notice – even if she wanted to – because players coming out of retirement need to follow certain protocols that take nearly six months before they can be reinstated.
Sinner provides illness update ahead of US Open
Sinner has revealed that he is still planning to play in the US Open singles despite his retirement in Monday’s Cincinnati Open final at 0-5 down.
‘I love Grand Slams a lot,’ Sinner said. ‘These are the main tournaments for my season and for my career.
‘The US Open is going to be a tough tournament but at the same time I’m looking forward to it.
‘If I’m ready, physically and mentally, I will be ready to push. So as I said, now a couple of days of recovery and then we will get again back to work.
‘Hopefully we will be ready so for sure, the main goal here in the US.’
Sinner, who won the US Open men’s singles title last year, added: ‘I didn’t feel great from yesterday (Sunday), also during the night.
‘I thought I would recover a bit better but it was not the case. I just tried to go out for the fans, trying to give a match.
‘That’s the reason why I went on the court but it was not meant to be for me today. So, you know, it happens.
‘I don’t want to take anything away from Carlos. He had a great week, great, great tournament again.
‘Now the main focus, obviously, is for the US Open and recovery is the most important. Then we will see.
‘I feel like [it was] a very positive week, making the finals of a Masters event is always an amazing achievement. I feel like in the season I’m playing is an incredible season, so we’ll keep going and keep pushing.’