Games, Sets, Manjia!

The US Open star is all about carbs before jumping into a match at Tony Midtown’s Italian restaurant.

“Jannik Sinner, he’s a fan of bolognese sauce and pasta,” said Gustavo Hodzic, co-owner of the popular Osteria Delbianco, while chatting with reporters about the 24-year-old Italian tennis sensation.

This restaurant on East 49th Street is so well-liked that both Sinner, the top player in the rankings, and his rival from Spain, Carlos Alcaraz, 22, ended up having dinner there on the same night last week.

“It was just a coincidence,” Alcaraz mentioned about the unexpected meeting on Thursday around 9 PM.

That’s quite something. Alcaraz had just faced defeat for the second time on Monday.

The 2022 US Open champion reached the Queens semi-finals after defeating the Czech Republic’s Jiří Lehečka (another fan of Delbianco) in straight sets on Tuesday.

Defending champion Sinner is set to play against his fellow Italian Lorenzomussetti in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

This pasta really hits the spot.

Other players like Andrey Rublev, Lorenzo Musetti, Leylah Fernandez, and Jasmine Paolini have also dined at the same restaurant during the tournament.

Location matters. Many tennis professionals are staying at the Midtown East Hotel, close to establishments inspired by chef Diego Bigucci’s roots in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The ambiance at the restaurant is typically warm and Italian.

“They feel very relaxed here; it’s like a home away from home,” co-owner Dorjan Kalaja remarked about the restaurant’s notable tennis clientele.

“They love it here. When they visit, they create an amazing atmosphere. People really enjoy their presence. Now, we’ve even formed personal connections with them,” he added.

However, Sinner, hailing from Innichen in northern Italy, seems to have a special bond with the place.

“Sinner enjoys cooking—he’s like a good Italian chef. A simple, traditional one, really. His father was a chef too and worked in the kitchen. He appreciates what we do here, focusing on traditional Italian cuisine,” Bigucci commented. “I’m proud of him.”

Lorenzo Musetti, another Italian tennis player, is expected to drop by the restaurant this week.

The unplanned meeting between the top seed and his fellow tennis stars from Spain was friendly, Hodzic noted, indicating that they didn’t clash like they would on the court.

“Sinner arrived first. Once Alcaraz stepped in, they started chatting, like old friends,” the chef shared. “They laughed and had a good time together.”

Sinner, who first started dining at Osteria Delbianco in 2020, is well-acquainted with his favorite dishes, according to staff.

He also has a taste for veal and scallops.

On Monday, Alcaraz ordered gnocchi with “small rugs and truffles,” along with grilled fish and roasted potatoes, Hodzic detailed.

In the past, the Spanish aces favored chicken diavolo, risotto, and salmon.

Alcaraz brought along a group of 11, including his father Carlos Alcalaz Gonzalez and his coach, former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

“Around 8:30 PM, Alcaraz’s coach came to the door with two others,” Hodzic recounted. “We were busy, and he asked if we had a table available. I said, ‘Of course.’ There was a corner table open—great for a player if anyone stops by.”

Right now, not many players are left as the second week of the Open unfolds.

But Alcaraz and Sinner are still going strong.

So far, the Spanish talents and Italian heavyweights have faced off in the finals at the French Open, where Alcaraz took the trophy, and Wimbledon, where Sinner emerged victorious.

Next up could be a showdown on Sunday at Arthur Ash Stadium or perhaps over a plate of pasta.