Sinner is “happy to be back on grass” for his first tournament as world No 1

While Carlos Alcaraz, winner of Roland-Garros, chose Queen’s to begin his preparation on grass, the new world No 1, Jannik Sinner, opted for Roger Federer’s former stomping ground at Halle. Next week the 22-year-old Italian, once a practice partner of the 10-time champion, will try to win his first title on this surface, where his best result is a semi-final at Wimbledon in 2023, next week.

At a press conference on Saturday, the newly anointed world No 1 spoke of his special connection with the Halle tournament, which gave him his chance by handing him a wild card when he was starting his career on the professional circuit. Sinner hopes to show his best tennis as soon as he enters the competition, on a surface which requires a little time to adapt.

“It would be very special to win here, because there are not many grass tournaments throughout the year,” Sinner said. “I only play here and at Wimbledon, so I only have two chances this season. But overall, it’s great to be back on grass.”

The Italian, who boasts a 33-3 record on the season, stresses that he will need some time to get his feet beneath him on the sport’s slippery surface.

“It’s different,” he said. “The first day you have to get familiar with the movements on the surface and it is difficult, especially when you play the first rounds against players who have already played on grass. They have a little more benchmarks, but it’s a place where they believed in me, they gave me a wild card in qualifying at the time (in 2019). So I’m happy to come back here and I hope I can show good tennis from the start.”

Sinner is wary of Griekspoor

Sinner will enter the fray against Tallon Griekspoor, 23rd-ranked player in the world, who has won 10 of his last 13 matches on grass, including a title at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in 2023. The Dutchman is playing very well at the moment, and notably pushed Alexander Zverev to his limits at Roland-Garros by leading 4-1 in the fifth set against the German before losing in the super tie-break.

Sinner confided that he was wary of the Griekspoor challenge.

“It will be very difficult. In general, he plays well on grass. He does a lot of serve and volley. He plays volleyball very, very well. It will be a very difficult match, but I can’t wait to play on grass,” Sinner said.

“It will be a good test for me, for my first match on this surface, to see where my level is. I’m going to give it my all and I can’t wait to see the crowd here. The atmosphere is good and I will just try to enjoy it.”

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