Why is Sinner* not grabbing the general public's attention?
- Thread starter Spencer Gore
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Spencer Gore
Legend
Now, now. Try not to indulge in personal insults. This isn't Ticky Tock, or whatever it's called.
Spencer Gore
Legend
I mean, girls were running onto the court to mob the guy. It was like the Beatles. A style of play can only do so much to put people off. So I don't think that's the answer.He was Mr.Iceberg on court but, off court, he did smile for the cameras:
Winner Sinner
Hall of Fame
Sinner is more outgoing and easy-going than people think.
And this is what all the people who frequent him say.
He is not a gloomy and introverted person.
Let's not confuse attitudes in the profession with what happens behind the scenes.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
How did you feel insulted? Many normal people get jealous of celebrities.
zakopinjo
Professional
Normal people are not jealous of celebrities, they only serve them as a source of entertainment.
Spencer Gore
Legend
Stick to discussing tennis and drop the personal stuff.
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
Pretty weird to post something like this if you need to particularly select Twitter, because on Instagram it‘s not like that.
zakopinjo
Professional
Kyrgiosbro has 4.1 million followers on Instagram
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Again how is it personal? Are you not normal person? Don't tell anyone here you are real Spencer gore. That guy is dead long ago.
So now coming back to topic yes celebrities are huge.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Most 21st century tennis players failed to transcend the sport to earn international public and media recognition, aside from Agassi (at the tail end of a career which already reached that point in the 20th), the Williams sisters, Sharapova, Nadal and a couple of additional players, but the list is very, very short.
There's no "Tennis Boom" of this era, where players rocketed to public awareness / acclaim to become household names, subjects of media satire (always a marker of a strong cultural footprint), etc.
This applies to Sinner, but it certainly involves Alcaraz, a player I do not hear the general public referring to, not for his game or personality. I do not find that the least bit odd, as most tennis players of this century lack so much of what is inherent in those with that magnetic combination of traits that make non-tennis fans take notice.
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
And you think if Sinner is 29 years like Kyrgios is, he will still have less than that?
EddieChang
Rookie
I doubt the general public voted. I didn’t even vote, and I have been following tennis closely for 10 years. You think the general public like those going to the us open voted?
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Exactly. The premise of the OP -- that Sinner ought to be widely beloved due to his record, so if he is not, it must be because of some personal failing -- is silly, and betrays a surprising ignorance of tennis history.
RaulRamirez
Legend
General comment: As others pointed out, the comparison with Borg just doesn't work. When he emerged as a tennis superstar, legendary tennis journalist Bud Collins called Borg "teen angel" among other things.
His cool personality (a refection of Sweden?) was a huge contrast to the combustible personalities of his two main rivals, Connors and McEnroe...and also Nastase. Borg had the good looks (sorry, Jannik) and an air of mystery, and he led the European wave that has never ended. Much different dynamic!
Now truth be told, while I'm a Borg fan, there really isn't much of a personality there. Seems like a nice, chill guy who says something interesting every decade or so.
His cool personality (a refection of Sweden?) was a huge contrast to the combustible personalities of his two main rivals, Connors and McEnroe...and also Nastase. Borg had the good looks (sorry, Jannik) and an air of mystery, and he led the European wave that has never ended. Much different dynamic!
Now truth be told, while I'm a Borg fan, there really isn't much of a personality there. Seems like a nice, chill guy who says something interesting every decade or so.
Gazelle
G.O.A.T.
So lazy you can't even check a well-known fact?
Where is your link to support your claim about Sinner?
Troll thread.
Good question.
He isnt particulary charismatic, but he seems like a very nice, smart guy.
It might come.
A Sinner vs Kyrgios in the first round of the Australian Open could be very provocative for obvious reasons.
brewcrew
Rookie
Sport is an entertainment, and he is less entertaining to watch. It's why Federer is the goat in many minds despite not having all the records. He is the most aesthetic and exciting person to watch of all time, and that is actually what the point of the entertainment is. Alcaraz is way more entertaining to watch than Sinner. That's it.
Spencer Gore
Legend
What's it like on Instagram?
Musterrific
Hall of Fame
Borg had handsome, rock star looks. Sinner on the other hand...
Spencer Gore
Legend
What's the magnetic combination, in your view?
That's not my premise at all. I didn't say he had to be loved -it can take many years for a tennis player to earn the love of the public (not sure Alcaraz even has that yet). I said Sinner's* barely getting any interest or attention from the general public, never mind love.
metsman
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm happy to hear that Sinner is your new favorite player Gore. It really elevates the quality of his fanbase.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Not sure even Alcaraz has been able to really make noise beyond tennis fans.
Now among tennis fans, I think Alcaraz made a bigger splash because everyone was saying a teenager could no longer win a major on the men's side. He flipped the script with his breakthrough and he was the first player post...Del Potro(?) to challenge the big 3 consistently.
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
There he has more followers than those others you listet, except for Alcaraz and obviously someone like Djokovic.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
This, mostly.
Spencer Gore
Legend
What's the respective totals of Alcaraz and Sinner? Is it pretty even?
Spin Diesel
Hall of Fame
No it's not even close for Sinner. But I get that Alcaraz is more popular with his kind of entertaining demeanor and a playstyle that to people who don't care as much about tennis looks a lot more spectacular.
But I completely disagree with all the "noone is interested in Sinner because he's so boring" stuff.
Exactly, even right after winning big tittles the guy shows cero emotion. Looks like his head is somewhere else during those moments.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
Lets just be honest.
We are not about tennis. If we were, then Sinner would be capturing the masses.
Just look at Djoker.
Sinner is by far the best player on tour, so if you like tennis you should be engaged. If not, then it is not about tennis but something else for you.
We are not about tennis. If we were, then Sinner would be capturing the masses.
Just look at Djoker.
Sinner is by far the best player on tour, so if you like tennis you should be engaged. If not, then it is not about tennis but something else for you.
Winners or Errors
Legend
Fed... 12.5M
Winners or Errors
Legend
Sports is an entertainment industry. I am quite entertained by Sinner and have seen him develop more variety over the last few years. Were I him, and still had the guillotine dangling over my career thanks to WADA, I'd be pretty reluctant to be brash publicly as well. I think we can give him some time. Apparently, not enough of us are "entertained" or we wouldn't be having this discussion.Lets just be honest.
We are not about tennis. If we were, then Sinner would be capturing the masses.
Just look at Djoker.
Sinner is by far the best player on tour, so if you like tennis you should be engaged. If not, then it is not about tennis but something else for you.
Lleytonstation
Talk Tennis Guru
My point. It is about entertainment not tennis for most.
Winners or Errors
Legend
I got that...
Spencer Gore
Legend
Not a current player. Neither is Nadal with 15.4M followers. They're both part of history now.
Sinner is an introverted individual who doesn’t seek to “entertain” the audience, whether on or off the tennis court. His polite demeanor, calm temperament, and focus on family and team have created a new kind of sports figure that has gained significant popularity in Italy. The question remains whether he can become an effective global brand ambassador. Some global brands, such as Nike, Rolex, and Gucci, have already invested heavily in him, likely leveraging his unique appeal, which resonates with both children and mothers, rather than pushing him to change.
Additionally, the continuation of his rivalry with Alcaraz will be crucial in expanding tennis’s reach among the younger generation
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Like Samurai Jack
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
Really? I think people enjoy his play.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Not ignorance, but it is likely motivated by yet another desperate attempt to condemn Sinner for a crime he did not consciously commit, while pretending other top players--with the best sports doctors/trainers money can buy--are not actively engaged in PED use. If anyone really thinks Alcaraz is not receiving some sort of PED and is 100% clean, they are only deceiving themselves.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Borg had huge charisma, and sex appeal. A very strong aura.
Vilas was a more human, flawed Borg.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Lets just be honest.
We are not about tennis. If we were, then Sinner would be capturing the masses.
Just look at Djoker.
Sinner is by far the best player on tour, so if you like tennis you should be engaged. If not, then it is not about tennis but something else for you.
People will always have preferences. Sampras and Agassi are both great players, but they have very different styles. If you prefer Agassi hitting the ball cleanly off of both wings, you are not going to become a Sampras fan simply because he has more majors.
That's just for gloryhounds.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
The USO is not a crapshoot. It just hasn't had a dominant player since Fed.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I think the main issue might be not showing much emotion on the court. The crowd gets energy when the players show emotions whether you root for them or against them. Even guys like Sampras and Federer showed more expressions on their face or with positive body language when they hit good shots or won key points and you could tell that they were upset when they were losing. Sinner has a much more expressionless demeanor both with his facial expressions and body language whatever the score is. Even when he fistpumps, his face is very stoic. I’ve been to 3 of his matches and appreciated his high level of play in a very rational way but he didn’t touch my emotions at all - it didn’t make me want to see any more of his matches and I ended up watching other players this year at IW.
Alcaraz is the polar opposite as he smiles a lot and wears his emotions on his sleeve - affects every one in the crowd one way or the other and not to mention that he hits a lot of spectacular shots also. Sinner hits a lot of high-% winners after he has created space on the court with his sound play and you usually know the winning shot is coming while Alcaraz sometimes hits winners from unexpected positions or with incredible touch like with his dropshots - that gets way more oohs and aahs from fans in the stadium and on TV.
Alcaraz is the polar opposite as he smiles a lot and wears his emotions on his sleeve - affects every one in the crowd one way or the other and not to mention that he hits a lot of spectacular shots also. Sinner hits a lot of high-% winners after he has created space on the court with his sound play and you usually know the winning shot is coming while Alcaraz sometimes hits winners from unexpected positions or with incredible touch like with his dropshots - that gets way more oohs and aahs from fans in the stadium and on TV.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Why would you look at Twitter? Instagram or TikTok would be a better source of data
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