By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Saturday, June 29, 2024
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner on the pressures and positive vibes playing his first Wimbledon as reigning world No. 1.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Don’t let his gentle disposition, ball-striking brilliance or Gucci ambassador star status fool you.
Dig deeper beneath the ballistic ball-striking and first-class branding and you’ll see what he’s all about.
More: 2024 Wimbledon TV Schedule
At heart, Jannik Sinner is an architect.
The Australian Open champion is building toward a big moment at Wimbledon.
In his first Grand Slam tournament as reigning world No. 1, Sinner not only has a blue print for grass success—he’s armed with two assets he didn’t possess prior to Roland Garros.
Health—Sinner says the hip injury that hobbled him in Madrid, forced him out of his home ATP 1000 event in Rome and preyed on his mind in Paris is not an issue today.
Confidence.
The second is not a surprise.
Let’s be real: you’d be confident too if you’re the dominant player of 2024 boasting a 38-3 record with four titles, the first man in Italian history to rise to world No. 1, a national hero for leading Italy to the Davis Cup, Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic’s main nemesis and riding the self belief that comes from winning your first grass-court tile in Halle over ATP ace leader Hubert Hurkacz, the man who ended Wimbledon king Roger Federer’s SW19 career.
When Sinner met the media at Wimbledon today, he spoke of the positives—health and self-belief—he has now that were lacking prior to Paris.
“After Paris I took some days off and then back to work. I mean, there is no secrets,” Sinner said in his pre-Wimbledon presser. “I feel physically much better than in the beginning of Roland Garros because there I arrived with some doubts.
“Here I have no doubts about my body. We have been working a lot in the last days. Yeah, I'm not concerned about my body shape. I'm just happy to be here and hopefully ready to compete.”
The top-seeded Sinner opens Wimbledon vs. Yannick Hanfmann.
The question is: Can Sinner’s growing confidence and success on grass helped him construct a winning path through a potential top-half minefield that awaits?
The 22-year-old Sinner is building toward big dreams at Wimbledon, but can they survive the demolition men he may meet along the way?
The potential blockbuster second-round all-Italian blockbuster between Sinner and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini could provide breath-taking fireworks if it comes off.
US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton, still learning his grass-court craft, is seeded 14th and also resides in Sinner’s quarter of the draw along with 2021 US Open champion and former Mallorca champion Daniil Medvedev.
“I feel like, especially on grass when you have a good confidence with also yourself, it can help you,” Sinner said. “Obviously last week for me was an important week.
“Last year I played semis here, so in my mind I know that I can play also some good tennis on this surface. Obviously every year is a bit different. In Halle the conditions are different than here.
“I'm just trying to get used to it, building my confidence here on this court. That's it. Thinking about seeding or all the rest, it doesn't make any sense. Everyone wants to win and show their best here. I'm just looking forward to it, to compete, and hopefully I can show also here some good tennis.”
Hopefully, the tennis world gets the showdown it’s salivating for: a potential semifinal clash between world No. 1 Sinner and reigning Wimbledon and Roland Garros champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Remember, just three weeks ago, Alcaraz fought into his maiden Roland Garros final with a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 conquest of Sinner that spanned four hours, nine minutes.
"Well, it was a really close match. I think really high level of tennis," Alcaraz said. "Really high intensity of everything. I'm going to say the key was that I took my chances that Jannik brought to me in the match.”
It’s an electric rivalry and one that could well reignite on Wimbledon’s grass, but obviously both young champions have a lot of work to do to make it happen.
Sinner says he’s right where he wants to be: playing for the biggest titles on the grandest stages and is riding the positives rather than simmering amid the pressures of new world No. 1.
On Monday, the speculation stops and the fun starts. Sinner says he’s doing his best to enjoy the ride.
“I consider myself very lucky. I think there are no, at the moment, negative things,” Sinner said. “I'm happy to go on court. I know how much I sacrificed to be also in this position where I am right now.
“It's always a huge honor to step on court. I think that's one of the reasons why I love tennis, no? I'm just taking nothing as granted. Feeling honored to go on court and just having fun. I think that's the most important.”