The 22-year-old from Sesto Pusteria decided to intervene in Rome to tell what happened in the last few hours
Jannik Sinner will not be at the start of the Italian internationals scheduled to Rome from next May 10th. An absence that weighs on the movement of Italian tennis and is linked to the conditions of the 22-year-old Sesto Pusteriastruggling with a hip problem that forced him to retire atATP Masters 1000 in Madrid. The Italian then chose to point out what happened over the last few hours during a press conference at Foro Italico on the occasion of the award given by the foreign press as the best tennis player of the year 2023. An occasion that raised some doubts about his possible participation in the Roland Garros.
JANNIK SINNER’S PRESS CONFERENCE
You talked about your great desire to play and that can’t be a mistake. Is there anything you wouldn’t do again?
It doesn’t always mean that if someone gets hurt it’s a mistake. I did all the right things, we took some rest days after Monte Carlo and I felt fresh for Madrid. We trained there to fuel up for Paris and I think I did everything correctly. It can fit. It’s been a long time since I had an injury and we hope to come back stronger than before.
What is the actual diagnosis?
We thought it wasn’t a big deal. The MRI revealed something wrong. What is certain is that if it is not 100% cured, I will stop a little longer, because I don’t want to throw away another three years of my career. Even if it hurts, taking care of your body is much more important than everything else. Let’s see how to handle these situations.
What is the highlight of this season?
It was here in Rome. We hope to be able to play in Turin in front of the Italian public. All the matches that can be played in Italy are special. It was an important tournament also for ATP points, even if it was quite secondary now. If I have to choose a goal it is to go to Turin. Hopefully we can go there even though I’m in a good position. The other goal is to get back on the court and play excellent tennis.
How confident do you feel about going to Paris and how will you prepare for the weed?
I’ve never had any problems with changing terrain. I haven’t been moving well lately. We are doing some low intensity work. There will be more answers in a week/week and a half. I will play in Paris if I have the chance to play 100% otherwise we will evaluate.
How will the next few weeks develop? When are you going to Paris?
It will be a period without playing. From next week onwards we will have to see how to work on it and decide some things. The preparation for Paris will not be optimal because we will be quite tight. With my team we will give our best to recover and go there to compete. Getting to Paris without matches here in Rome won’t be easy but let’s see how it goes. Now there is no answer to these questions.
You start from defeats even if this one isn’t. What has this story taught you? Did you make any mistakes?
I don’t know, I definitely realize that rest is very important. Already last year I gave myself the opportunity not to touch the racket for a few days because it is also important from a mental point of view. After Monte Carlo I didn’t touch a racket for five days and I felt good. Then I arrived in Madrid and I had to deal with the situation.
What did your body tell you in Monte Carlo and Madrid? Where do you see the glass half full?
It’s quite full based on the season we’re having. Even in the future there will always be difficult moments. Some injuries are preventable, some are not. Last year we had a season without injuries, this year the same. We can learn from these things and then move forward. In Monte Carlo his body felt a little tired after Indian Wells so next year it will be a question of whether to play or not. I am a person who would like to play in all tournaments, but if there are several people against one, it becomes more difficult. I don’t see it as a defeat. Surely there are things that can be done better.
When did this problem arise? During the tournament or before Madrid?
Before the tournament I was better. In Madrid there were some days where I felt more, others better. It was a strange situation. The day before the match it was a little better, but I knew something was wrong. The next day we had an MRI and that there was something that wasn’t 100% right and therefore I chose not to play in Madrid anymore. Taking exams in Munich I had to make further choices because Rome is the most important time of the year. I’m twenty-two years old, I have time to play for ten more years here
President Binaghi: “When Jannik called me I didn’t have the courage to call him, but we need to start again stronger than before”
“Being here honors him and honors our event. In such an exasperated sport, the Federation must have the task of being close to our champions in moments of difficulty. It’s too easy to do so when you win the Australian Open. This is the same as for Jannik It’s a difficult moment. The phone call was a shock because I thought the danger had passed since I had followed the story with Volandri in Madrid and I saw that Jannik had called me. I left it to think about it half an hour before I called him back and when I took courage, I saw that it was what I thought it should have been his celebration, given that after 47 years it was the first time he was the favorite in this tournament. Nonetheless, I think the choice was right and credit is due of the staff. I believe that his objective, like that of Italian tennis, is continuity, as painful as it is, I think it is the right one to find the strength to start again.”
