Jannik Sinner Makes Honest Confession About French Open Heartbreak After Halle Exit

Alexander Bublik scheduled a quarterfinal clash with Tomas Machac after knocking out Jannik Sinner at the Halle Open.

Jannik Sinner Makes Honest Confession About French Open Heartbreak After Halle Exit

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Jannik Sinner tried his all to force a comeback but was unsuccessful in defeating Alexander Bublik in the second round of the Halle Open he played on Thursday (June 19). With a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, the Kazakh ace secured his second win over Sinner to inch closer to his second Halle Open title.

After his defeat, Sinner admitted that he hasn’t yet moved on from the French Open heartbreak. About two weeks ago, the Italian produced his career’s best performance on clay when he reached the French Open final for the first time and scheduled a clash with Carlos Alcaraz.

Both the players displayed a high level of tennis and Sinner, after taking a 2-0 lead, couldn’t convert three championship points in the fourth set, eventually losing the match to the Spaniard, who defended his crown and took an 8-4 lead in the head-to-head matchups. Sinner, who beat home favorite Yannick Hanfmann to kick-start his campaign on the grass swing, registered his second defeat to Bublik in Halle.

I felt that everything was going to be decided in two or three points. I tried everything, but it couldn’t be, he was better in the key moments. The truth is that after the defeat in Paris, it hasn’t been easy to compete here. I am relatively satisfied to have been able to play two matches on grass before Wimbledon.

Jannik Sinner told reporters

It was Bublik’s second victory over Sinner in their six meetings. The 28-year-old, after knocking out Sinner in the 2023 Halle Open quarterfinals, reached the final and beat Andrey Rublev to lift his career’s first title on grass.

The 23-year-old became a grass-court champion for the first time in Halle last year by beating Hubert Hurkacz. They also met each other for the second time this season, following the quarterfinal of the French Open, which Sinner won in straight sets.

Jannik Sinner will take a break before starting his preparation for Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner is tired, physically; and thinks some days off would do him good before Wimbledon. The grass-court Major is scheduled to start on June 30.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/GamebredSports)

It’s time to take a break, I’m going to recover mentally and physically. I need some time for that and I think a break will be good for me. Mentally, I’ve been feeling good, but I’m a bit tired physically. Not every day is the same, we have to accept it and that’s it.

Jannik Sinner told reporters after his defeat to Alexander Bublik

Sinner, after his win over Yannick Hanfmann, admitted that he struggled with the transition from clay to grass and said it’s important for him to win some matches on the surface before Wimbledon, where he has never progressed to the final. In 2023, he lost in straight sets to eventual runner-up Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.

Last year, however, the three-time Grand Slam champion got knocked out after losing a five-set quarterfinal to Daniil Medvedev. If the World No.1 reaches the Wimbledon final, he could set up another blockbuster clash with Carlos Alcaraz, given that the five-time Grand Slam champion will be the second seed.

Alcaraz will be entering the third Major of the season as the two-time defending champion (beat Djokovic in the previous two finals). If the young rivals meet, then it will be their third encounter this season, following the Italian Open and the French Open finals.

At present, Alcaraz is in London, participating at the Queen’s Club Championships, where he is bidding to win his fourth title on grass and his fifth title of the season. He was the winner at Queen’s in 2023.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Wants to ‘Kill’ Novak Djokovic Because of ‘This’ Reason