Sinner on Wimbledon bounceback: there's no magic formula
Jannik Sinner says there is no magic formula for bouncing back from his French Open meltdown. The defending Wimbledon champion told reporters on Saturday that his recovery is a long process built on small training tweaks, not a quick fix. He opens his title defence on Centre Court against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic on Monday.
Key Takeaways
- Sinner lost a two-set lead at Roland Garros to Juan Manuel Cerundolo after dizziness and cramping in hot conditions.
- He skipped ATP grass-court warmups, ran longer gym and on-court sessions without breaks, and did post-Paris testing.
- Sinner insists results will not show immediately: "There's no magic behind it," but he feels well prepared after 2.5 weeks of work.
- With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by a wrist injury, Sinner enters Wimbledon as the leading favorite.
- His opening match against Miomir Kecmanovic kicks off Monday on Centre Court, with temperatures near 77°F (25°C).
What went wrong for Sinner at the French Open?
The world No. 1 was stunned in the second round at Roland Garros. Leading Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2, 5-1, Sinner suddenly struggled with dizziness, fatigue, and severe cramping. He lost the next three sets 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
Sinner told the trainer he felt dizzy and sick during the match. Temperatures rose from 29°C (84°F) to about 32°C (90°F). He has struggled in extreme heat before, including at the Australian Open, where a heat rule allowed the roof to close and helped him recover.
Why does Sinner say there is no magic formula?
Speaking at Wimbledon on Saturday in English and Italian, Sinner pushed back on the idea of an instant turnaround. "We did some changes. I don't say big, big changes. But I always believe in small details and small changes," he said.
He added: "The result we're not going to see here. It's a long process. There's no magic behind it. But we are doing as much as we can." After Paris, he took a week off, spent time with family, and then began an intensive 2.5-week training block. He also said all recent tests came back good, though his team still wants more practice in hotter conditions.
What changed in Sinner's physical training?
Sinner and his team adjusted his workload to better replicate match-day fatigue. "Much longer sessions — both in the gym and on the court," he explained. "We did everything together but without any breaks." The goal was to capture sensations closer to what he felt on court in Paris, even if no drill can fully copy match tension.
He skipped grass-court warmup tournaments on the ATP Tour for the first time in his career, though he played an exhibition at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic in London. Sinner noted that last year he lost in Halle's second round yet still won Wimbledon, beating Alcaraz in the final. For more on how sports science and climate tech are reshaping elite performance, see our Future Tech coverage.
Who faces Sinner in his Wimbledon opener?
Sinner debuts on Monday's opening day against Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia on Centre Court — the traditional slot reserved for the defending champion. With Alcaraz out, Sinner is the favorite to claim a second straight Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam overall.
He acknowledged rising temperatures across the tour: "Every year it's getting warmer and warmer. It is a very important topic." Full details of his pre-tournament comments are on the ATP Tour. Now the real test begins on grass.