ATP
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.
Laver Cup debutant Lerner Tien showed he’s fast on the rebound as the American took inspiration from coach Andre Agassi to level the Laver cup score a 3-3 with a Saturday win in London over Flavio Cobolli.
Tien, at 20 a young gun on the Rest of the World side, defeated Italy’s Roland Garros finalist 6-3, 2-6, 10-7.
With Day 2 win counting two points each, the victory in 97 minutes put teammates Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz on level-pegging heading into their later singles tests against Europe.
World has won four of the previous five titles in the exhibition run by Roger Federer’s management group in honor of the Swiss icons tennis idol, Rod Laver..
Tien, who won the spring Geneva ATP title, said he has to make a major reset after losing the second set to Cobolli, fighting back to win the match tiebreak third set at the O2.
“I can reset pretty easily,” the No. 13 said. “In this format, the score does not matter so much. Everyone always had a chance.
“To put the second set behind me was pretty good.”
Tien dropped serve twice in the second set after winning the first. But his deciding set fightback made the difference for his side.
“I just went into lockdown, there are some moments where the ball if just there to go for it. It was still tough to get through.”
The youngster gave full credit to Agassi for his inspiration. “Andre has given me more knowledge than everyone combined. It’s good to have a voice like that on the sidelines encouraging you. It’s very helpful.”
Casper Ruud and Rafa Jodar combined to start and finish Friday’s opening stage of the Laver Cup as their victories sent Europe into a 2-1 lead over Rest of the World in London.
Norway’s Ruud began day 1 play with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-8 defeat of Argentina Francisco Cerundolo while Spanish prodigy Jodar finished off the programme 6-2, 6-4 ovr Alexander Bublik in a winning debut at the team exhibition conceptualised by Roger Federer in 2017 to hour is tennis hero Rod Laver.
Jodar, who turned 20 only days ago, spent 84 minutes in adding a point for Europe coached by French legend Yannick Noah and earning his own 38th match win of this breakthrough season.
“It was a pleasure to represent Team Europe for the first time. I felt great on court. I played against a tough player… I think the atmosphere was great, so thank you everyone for coming” the winner said.
The unpredictable Bublik was unable to match it with the Spanish youngster ranked 14th
Jodar won eight of his final nine service points for the win. Jodar and Carlos Alcaraz combined for a one-two punch in the concluding doubles rubber, defeating Bublik and Taylor Fritz to end the day with a 3-1 European lead
Main photo:- Casper Ruud opens the scoring for Team Europe – ISF Ltd
Jannik Sinner on Friday announced another injury setback, with the world No. 1 withdrawing from the September start of the China Open in Beijing.
The Italian who has not played since defending his Wimbledon title in July, has been on the injury list ever since, missing the Masters events in Canada and Cincinnati and skipping the US Open.
Sinner won the Beijing event a year ago and could now be in doubt for the Shanghai Masters next month.
“Hello everyone, Jannik here,” Sinner posted on social media.
“I want to send the warmest greetings to the Chinese fans. I’m very sorry to announce that I won’t be able to play in Beijing this year.
“My knee is not there, where I would like [it] to be, and I am not ready to compete yet. But I will do everything possible to be there on court as soon as I can.
“What I miss the most is, of course, the tournament, the fans, and the atmosphere. I’ve had a great, great time in the past, winning the title also last year, and I’m very disappointed that I cannot defend it this year, but I’m very happy to come back next year.
“So I wish everyone a very good tournament and I’ll see you all very soon on court again.”
This season has been a roller coaster for the 24-year-old who won five Masters 1000 titles in a row in 2026: Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.
Main Photo:- Jannik Sinner won Beijing trophy in 2023. – by ISF Ltd
Svitolina clinches BJK Cup finals spot for Ukraine
Tien’s great re-set ties Laver at 3-all
Europe grabs Laver lead on opening day
-
The US Open3 weeks agoUmpire chastises US Open approved influencers during Osaka match.
-
The US Open4 weeks agoNo. 1 hopeful Rybakina has no time for number crunching
-
ATP4 weeks agoNotorious US Open outer court can reek of weed
-
ATP3 weeks agoUS Open 2026 Men’s Day 5
-
ATP3 weeks agoGrunting Shelton cops another early morning USO finish
-
ATP4 weeks agoShowman Monfils celebrates 40th birthday in style
-
The US Open3 weeks agoSabalenka snaps at work ethic query
-
Cincinnati Masters3 weeks agoUS Open 2026 Women’s Day 4