'I checked straight away if he took something': Jannik Sinner responds to fan who attempted to steal from his bag

Jannik Sinner’s 2025 US Open journey reached another milestone on Wednesday as the Italian advanced to the semifinals, defeating fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, marking his fourth Grand Slam semifinal appearance of the year. The young star’s consistency at tennis’s biggest tournaments has become one of the defining features of his career, and his post-match press conference offered insight into both his on-court focus and an unusual off-court incident.

During the US Open press conference, Sinner reflected on his performance and what it means to consistently reach the later stages of major tournaments: "The main events of the year are obviously the Grand Slams. I’m very happy. These are very special occasions. Finding myself again in the semis of a Grand Slam is a great, great achievement. I’m very, very happy about that. We try to prepare ourselves always in the best possible way to be in these positions. I love to go deep in a tournament and try to raise my level. I feel like, for the last two years, in Grand Slams, I really enjoy playing best of five. I know my body a little bit better. I’m very happy and pleased to be again in the semis.".

Addressing fan incident on court

The press conference also touched on an unusual moment off the court following Sinner’s previous match against Alexander Bublik. A video circulated showing Sinner handing a towel to a fan while another fan appeared to attempt to open his bag. When asked about the incident, Sinner remained calm and professional.

The Italian was asked on if he has ever experienced something like this before where he said the following:

"No, I haven’t experienced it. I checked straight away if he took something because I don’t have only rackets there, I have my phone, I have my wallet… I don’t know."

Despite the unexpected event, Sinner praised tournament security for their role in ensuring player safety:

"But I feel like the security is doing a great job. Especially on court, there’s lots of security. I believe, especially in the big tournaments, they do an amazing job to make us feel safe. Even when new things happen like this, they do a great job. It’s all fine."

On his semifinal against Felix Auger-Aliassime

Shifting focus back to his upcoming match, Sinner discussed his semifinal opponent, Felix Auger-Aliassime, whom he recently faced at the Cincinnati Open and beat 6-0, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the different conditions and the confidence his opponent has gained from recent victories stating, "It’s going to be completely different because the conditions here are different. He had some big wins, so it’s a big confidence boost for him. Then we’ll see what’s going to happen. I feel like everything can happen. From my point of view, I always try to look at myself. I’m very happy to be in the semis of a Grand Slam again.".

He also highlighted the rapid improvements opponents can make, noting that even within a week, adjustments can significantly change a match: "I feel like he has improved a lot. Even in one week, you can make big adjustments. I feel like he did that. It’s going to be a very difficult match for both of us. It’s definitely different because it’s a Grand Slam, the energy and everything will be different. It’s going to be very interesting to see.".

As the 2025 US Open semifinals approach, Sinner’s combination of skill, focus, and composure continues to define his year. While he remains unfazed by off-court distractions, his attention is firmly on the tennis ahead. With four Grand Slam semifinals now under his belt in 2025, Sinner is steadily cementing his place among the sport’s elite, demonstrating that preparation, resilience, and mental strength are key to sustaining success at the highest level.