Jannik Sinner is gearing up for a return to grass-court action in Halle this week, seeking to put the disappointment of his Roland Garros final behind him.
But that will not be easy.
After all, he held three championship points, yet conspired to lose the match and the trophy to Carlos Alcaraz.
As is the unrelenting manner of the tennis calendar, he cannot dwell on such a defeat, and already many have had to move on from one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time.
The Italian can take some solace in a new record that he has just matched though, and reacted whilst speaking ahead of the Terra Wortmann Open.
Jannik Sinner matches legendary figures with new record
First asked about the transition from clay to grass, Jannik Sinner admitted: ’It’s always a complicated phase in the season.
‘The first grass games are difficult, you have to be very concentrated, move well. For me, it is important to open intelligently. But I’ve just proven myself last year that I can be a good grass player.’
Then asked about his incredible ability to retain the world number one spot after first grabbing it, he continued: ‘I have heard that so far only Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors, Novak Djokovic and Lleyton Hewitt have managed to do that.
‘It is an honour for me to be part of such a group. On the other hand, it is above all that you write your own story – apart from these statistics.’
Jack Draper reviewed the Roland Garros final, admitting the entire ATP tour will have reacted similarly to such a high level of tennis.
Jannik Sinner could redeem Roland Garros disappointment at Wimbledon
Sinner has all the tools needed to be a huge threat on grass, and having won Halle last year, that was already a proven notion.
Frustratingly, he was struck down with illness mid-way through his Wimbledon run, which played a huge part in his surprising quarter-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev.
Had he been fit, who knows how far he could have pushed Alcaraz in the semi-final?
After all, it’s arguable that his relentless, powerful and clean ball striking is even more favourable for this surface than any other.
With Sinner and his Spanish competitor set to once again be on opposite sides of the draw for this upcoming Grand Slam, perhaps we could see a replay of that Roland Garros final. There, the 23-year-old can exorcise the demons of his Parisian collapse.
