Jannik Sinner is back on the tennis court for the first time since his crushing defeat at Roland Garros. And he’s being pretty honest about how tough it’s been to deal with.
The 23-year-old Italian was so close to winning his fourth Grand Slam title at the French Open. Even closer to capturing his first major outside of hard courts.
He took the first two sets against Carlos Alcaraz. Then had three straight championship points in the fourth set.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | 24 | 15,405 | 33 - 3 |
But somehow, it all slipped away.
Sleepless Nights
Sinner was clearly the better player for most of that match. Which makes losing it even more heartbreaking.
He’s the top seed at this week’s Halle Open – his first tournament back after taking a week off to process what happened in Paris.
"It happens. I don’t know how it will look in the future. I think that it is not the most important thing, but I nevertheless try to forget the negative things and see what I can do here [in Halle]. I think that for me to play another tournament is positive, because every match is a new beginning, and I must be mentally ready to give my all on the court. Therefore, it is great I can be here in Halle."
But the loss is still eating at him.
"But yes, I had already a few sleepless nights, but I think every day it gets better. My family stand behind me, and my friends. That is the most important thing for me. Tennis is important in my life but nevertheless are family and friends more important. Nonetheless I think often about the match."
Going Home to Heal
When asked how he’s been coping, Sinner’s answer was refreshingly normal. He went home and did exactly what you’d hope someone would do after a tough loss.
He spent time with family and friends. Tried to forget about tennis for a while.
"I was very relaxed with my family. We grilled a bit, played table tennis with my friends. Really normal things, nothing special. I like going home, when a lot is going on. I feel safe at home and with my friends. They know how I am, and how I was before. They know me very well."
It’s pretty amazing how grounded he sounds. Here’s someone who was three points away from tennis history, and he’s talking about backyard barbecues and ping-pong games.
"I didn’t do much. I was relatively relaxed, and now I have been here since yesterday. The most important thing is to bring 100 per cent to this tournament. The first grass match is very difficult, but I am happy to be here."
New Surface, Fresh Start
Now Sinner’s switching to grass courts – a completely different challenge from the clay of Roland Garros. Grass is faster, the ball bounces lower, and it requires a totally different style of play.
He hasn’t had any grass practice before arriving in Halle. But that doesn’t seem to worry him too much.
"The first practice session was OK. I hadn’t played since Paris, so my general feeling on the court were not so perfect, but I think today it will go better."
The timing might actually work in his favor. Sometimes jumping into a new environment can help shake off disappointment.
"I think a good grass-court player can move well. The ball can bounce a bit funny because of the grass, and you have to serve intelligently. But in general, it is a surface on which I took a step forward last year and we will see how it goes this year."
Sinner made real progress on grass last season. With Wimbledon coming up in a few weeks, Halle gives him the perfect chance to build momentum and put Paris behind him.
The question now is whether he can channel that frustration into something positive on the courts of Germany.
