Jannik Sinner Doesn’t Think Being Former Skier Helps Him Avoid Injuries After Nasty Falls

Jannik Sinner kick-started his Wimbledon title defense in a dramatic fashion on Monday (June 29). Miomir Kecmanovic took the first set off him, but Sinner fought back and took the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-2, 6-3 after three hours and 30 minutes.

During the third set, the Italian ace suffered an ugly fall and injured his toenail. Blood was seen seeping through his white Nike shoes. But the four-time Grand Slam champion, who fell a couple of times during the match, brushed off injury concerns during the on-court interview.

大丈夫かなぁぁぁ😓🙏#sinner pic.twitter.com/8GwXfatu0Y

— gami (@gami30104) June 29, 2026

Sinner, who smashed 31 aces but also hit 52 unforced errors, was asked during the press conference whether being a former skier helps him avoid brutal injuries after nasty falls.

I don’t think because there are movements that you really can’t control. It’s just instinct. Skiing may help you at certain times, but not when you fall, when you have no control at all. We did a lot of prevention before this tournament because we knew that things like this could potentially happen. Today it happened. So, the most important thing is to eliminate this part and keep moving as before, because if not, when you are too scared, everything goes too slow.

The defending champion will next be playing Nuno Borges, who defeated Tristan Boyer. Sinner will be facing the Portuguese ace for the second time following their meeting in the round of 16 of the 2022 Sofia Open, which the World No.1 won.

Jannik Sinner praises Miomir Kecmanovic’s level

Although Jannik Sinner has improved his head-to-head record over Miomir Kecmanovic to a perfect 5-0, he did not win all of these matches easily. The Serbian ace, who has played finals on all three surfaces, has won two titles: at the 2020 Austrian Open Kitzbuhel and last year’s Delray Beach Open.

He is a very, very good player on all surfaces, but especially on grass because his shot is very flat, so he moves very well across the court. The serve +1 he hit today was very, very powerful. Although sometimes I returned well, he always played the first ball very well, and I had some difficulties, so it is something we need to improve.

Jannik Sinner said at the press conference

Kecmanovic has never reached the fourth round of Wimbledon. Only twice he has made the fourth round of a Major, at the Australian Open in 2022 and 2024. But Sinner, last year at Wimbledon, beat arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz, stopping him from defending the title for the third consecutive time.

Playing on Centre Court in the first match is a bit different because the ball is a bit slower than in the practice courts. I had some difficulties with my forehand at the beginning. I knew that before the match.

Jannik Sinner added

The 24-year-old has already clinched five titles this season. After his Australian Open and Qatar Open exits, Sinner won five back-to-back titles in the Masters 1000 events, winning in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.

The win made him the first man to clinch the first five Masters 1000s of the season, with his victory in his home event making him the second man after Novak Djokovic to reach the Career Golden Masters milestone. But at the French Open next, Sinner failed to complete the Career Grand Slam as he suffered severe cramps during his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo and lost the match in five sets.

Sinner is chasing his third grass-court title. Before last year’s Wimbledon, the South Tyrol native won the 2024 Halle Open. But he chose not to feature in any warm-up tournament this year to manage his schedule.

Also read: Joao Fonseca Opens Up on the Characteristics of Rafael Nadal that Inspired His Career