Sinner says he’s top-fit; won’t discuss player protest

Jannik Sinner pronounced himself 100 percent fit for his Wimbledon champion’s start but kept discussions strictly business on the eve of the tournament.

The world No. 1 who faded in the heat of a Roland Garros second-round upset a month ago, said that medical tests in Italy have shown he’s ready to go at the grass-court major.

He did admit to modifying his training regime to include more hot weather work and stamina training for sweltering conditions.

The current British heatwave which has baked the island nation for the past week, will have subsided by the time the defending champion takes to Centre Court in Monday afternoon’s traditional start for the holder.

“I feel good,” Sinner said on Saturday at a pre-tournament appearance. “Grass is a very different surface. You come here trying to do your best. 

“At the same time, if you play a tournament before here, maybe it’s not going the way you would like to, you come here with some doubts. “

If you don’t play any tournament, you don’t have these doubts, you just go and play.”

The Italian from the German-speaking north was more reluctant to discuss the ongoing player protest against the Grand Slams, with many top competitors limiting their pre-event media to 15 minutes and rationing out post-match appearances to a total of 15 minutes during week one here.

The top seed who was in ana out in a quarter of an hour, repeatedly shut down questions pertaining to the player protest: “I’m here to talk about tennis.”

Top players feel that the four Grand Slams are not contributing enough in prize money and are asking that the sum be raised to 11 percent of revenues. The majors are fighting back with economic arguments of their own, with discussions being held secretly..

Despite coming into the major without a tune-up match, the top seed is supremely confident.

“Last year I lost second round in Halle. I came here and I played very well. Every year is different. 

“I try to have as much confidence as possible in my shots and in my abilities. 

“First rounds, they’re always going to be very tough. I know that mentally. We are preparing in the best possible way.”

He added: “We did some changes. I don’t say big, big changes. But I always believe in small details and small changes.
“We are happy at the moment with what we are doing. The result we’re not going to see here. 

“It’s a long process. There’s no magic behind it. We are doing as much as we can. 

“I’m very happy with the work we did in the last two and a half weeks. Very long days. I feel well-prepared.”

Sinner opens his campaign on Monday against Serb Miomir Kecmanovic.