‘It was an excellent feeling’

Jannik Sinner will return to motion this week on the ATP 500 in Halle, the place he’ll defend the semifinals reached final 12 months, a participant who reaches this stage of the 12 months after reaching the semifinals of Roland Garros.

The 22-year-old Italian will debut as world primary towards the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, a tricky rival to begin this tour, during which he’ll attempt to obtain nice outcomes.

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“It could be very particular to win right here, as a result of there aren’t that many grass tournaments all year long. I solely play right here and at Wimbledon, so I solely get two possibilities this 12 months. However general, it’s nice to be again on the garden,” mentioned world primary.

Jannik Sinner units new targets

In a latest interview with the official ATP web site earlier than his debut in Halle, Jannik Sinner recalled his follow session with 24-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer: “I keep in mind Luthi stopping me on the steps of the lodge and asking me if I might heat [Federer] up for his match.

It was an excellent feeling, a particular feeling. I didn’t have the prospect to play towards Roger in an official match, and that is one thing that I’ll at all times miss, however I do keep in mind the follow classes with him.”

Sinner will search to take a step additional at Wimbledon, after the quarter-finals of 2022 and the semifinals final 12 months, the transalpine will go for glory in a 12 months during which he already received his first Grand Slam title.

“It’s completely different. The primary day it’s important to make the strikes on the floor and it’s troublesome, particularly while you play the primary rounds towards gamers who’ve already performed on grass. They’ve somewhat extra feeling, however it is a place the place they believed in me, they gave me a wild card within the earlier part of their day.

So I’m blissful to be again right here and hope I can present some good tennis from the start,” Sinner informed the ATP official web site.