Andrea Petkovic Claims Jannik Sinner is Doing ‘Hilarious’ Thing John McEnroe Used to Do

Jannik Sinner is in Paris to bid for his first French Open title and will kick-start his campaign against Arthur Rinderknech.

Andrea Petkovic Claims Jannik Sinner is Doing ‘Hilarious’ Thing John McEnroe Used to Do

Andrea Petkovic, Jannik Sinner, John McEnroe (Image via Wikipedia, WEB.DE, X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

Jannik Sinner has started his preparation for the French Open. He will be chasing his second title of the season in the clay-court Major following the Australian Open that he defended this January.

The French Open is scheduled to start on May 25th and ahead of the tournament, former WTA player Andrea Petkovic observed Sinner and claimed one habit of his is similar to that of John McEnroe. It’s the habit of looking at his team when another player commits an unforced error. She said during the Becker Petkovic podcast:

Sometimes I see the other player make an unforced error and Jannik looks at his box like this: ‘What is this?’ You know who I saw that with? John McEnroe. It’s hilarious.

Petkovic recalled the time when she used to train with McEnroe at his academy in New York. She said some unambitious kids were sent to the academy by their rich parents. If those kids failed to hit neutral balls, the seven-time Grand Slam champion used to “shout like a madman“.

I think sometimes I see that with Jannik too, he looks like that when someone makes a mistake like that, he wonders what’s wrong with the other player?

Sinner, after serving his doping ban, made his comeback in his home tournament, the Italian Open. He was expected to make a deep run and he did not disappoint, as he impressed the tennis world by reaching the final but lost it in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz. Since August last year, Sinner lost his matches only to Alcaraz (in the China Open final in October followed by his defeat in Rome.)

Jannik Sinner to lock horns with Arthur Rinderknech

The French Open draw is out and Jannik Sinner‘s first-round opponent cannot believe he is pitted against the World No.1. It’s Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated Sinner in Lyon back in 2021.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

But since then, the 23-year-old clinched the win when they met in Antwerp the same year and in the ATP Cup in 2022. The match in Lyon was held on clay so Rinderknech is 1-0 against the three-time Grand Slam champion on his least favorite surface.

Oh God!!! What do we do?? @janniksin @Tribunebleue, we'll need to be there.
Arthur Rinderknech wrote on X

Check out his post here:

Sinner produced his best performance in the clay-court Major last year when he reached the semifinal and was defeated after a five-set thriller by Carlos Alcaraz, who later went past World No.3 Alexander Zverev in five sets to become a French Open champion for the first time in his career. This year too, Sinner could meet Alcaraz in Paris.

But for the mouthwatering clash, both the players will have to reach the final. Alcaraz will be chasing his fourth title of the season, and his third on clay after his victory in Monte Carlo and Rome.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are seeded first and second for the first time in a Major

If Alcaraz and Sinner meet in the French Open final, then it will be their first encounter in a Grand Slam final. For the first time, these two young rivals are seed first and second in a Grand Slam event. Alcaraz secured the second position on the rankings table after Zverev failed to defend his Italian Open title.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Giovanni Pelazzo, Carlos Alcaraz)

But before that, Sinner could run into 24-time Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. It’s difficult to write the Serb off in Grand Slam matches even though he was struggling to win matches. Alcaraz, on the other hand, could meet Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinal.

Also read: “It’s Annoying and Frustrating,” Emma Raducanu Provides Worrying Injury Scare After Crashing out of the Strasbourg Open