The South Tyrolean tennis player returns to the court after resting for a couple of weeks and skipping Barcelona.
The second defeat of the entire season, which came after three tournaments won and a second place achieved in the ATP ranking – the highest position ever reached by an Italian tennis player in the history of this sport – raised a small alarm bell for the blue sportsman of the moment.
Jannik Sinner had to give in to Tsitsipas two weeks ago at the Masters 1,000 in Monte Carlo and knew the bitter taste of defeat for only the second time in the whole of 2024. A 1-2 against the Greek tennis player which arrived due to a sensational refereeing oversightbut also due to the less than perfect physical condition of the South Tyrolean player.
These conditions convinced Sinner that perhaps the time had come to stop for a few days, to rest and to skip the ATP tournament in Barcelona which was held last week. A preventive stop which was also recommended to Jannik by his coaches and trainers.
On the other hand, as he has often repeated in recent months, his real objectives are elsewhere. Obviously there are the Italian Internationals in Rome, Roland Garros in Paris, Wimbledonbut above all the Summer Olympics, which will always be held in Paris, but which is the number one thought in Sinner’s mind.
Masters Madrid, the sensations of Sinner
In these days, meanwhile, there will be the great return to the court of the number two tennis player in the world which will take place at the Masters 1,000 in Madrid. A tournament that Jannik missed last year and which this year sees him start as number one seed, given the simultaneous absence of Novak Djokovic.
The 22 year old from San Candido thus commented on his physical condition and his prospects for Madrid: “It is certainly a tournament where we will try to do excellent physical work, especially in the gym, then we’ll see how it goes. In my head I know that maybe I will have some more difficulties but I am happy to be back here in Madrid after missing the last edition, it is a special tournament with particular conditions due to the altitude. We hope to do well this year.”.
Madrid, Alcaraz dreams of a final with Nadal
Difficulties, therefore, that Sinner expects them, but they are also in the thoughts of the great host of the Madrid Masters. Carlos Alcaraz, in fact, has won the last two editions of the tournament which takes place in the Spanish capital and starts as favorite in this one too, thanks to a scoreboard that seems designed especially for him and appears simpler than that of his Italian rival.
Alcaraz said he feels good, but knows he’s not 100%. The sensations are good, but not excellent, in short. Above all, however, there would be the possibility of a Spanish derby with Nadal in the final and this, for all the public who will attend the Masters 1,000 in Madrid, would be a dream and obviously it would also be a dream for the two directly involved.
