Jannik Sinner Takes Aim at Madrid Open Organizers on Scheduling Fiasco

Jannik Sinner is in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open for the second time in his career.

Jannik Sinner Takes Aim at Madrid Open Organizers on Scheduling Fiasco

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/4K JANNIK SINNER)

In Short
  • Jannik Sinner criticized Madrid Open organizers for scheduling his match at 11:00 am instead of a prime afternoon or evening slot.
  • He won his round of 16 match against Cameron Norrie in straight sets, extending his winning streak in ATP Masters 1000 matches to 25.
  • Sinner expressed the need for scheduling adjustments, stating that late matches can finish as late as 1:30 am, impacting player recovery.

Jannik Sinner has called on the Madrid Open organizers to make some adjustments to the schedule following his rare 11:00 am start to his round of 16 match at the Caja Magica on Tuesday (April 28). The Italian star defeated British No.1 Cameron Norrie in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 event.

Before Tuesday (April 28), Sinner had been given a 3:00 pm or 1:00 pm slot at the Madrid Open. However, the organizers decided to shift his match earlier in the day, giving the prime slot to Rafael Jodar‘s round of 16 tie against Vit Kopriva as he’s the home favorite at the tournament. Alexander Zverev and Jakub Mensik were given the night slot for the day.

Before Zverev’s match, Daniil Medvedev and Flavio Cobolli were to start at least before 7:10 pm local time. With Carlos Alcaraz not competing at the Madrid Open, afternoon or evening slots are supposed to be given to Sinner, as that’s when fans fill the stadium. But Sinner’s match against Norrie was surprisingly placed in the morning slot.

The Italian star didn’t take it seriously or protest for a change by his team; he took to the court to face Norrie. He broke the British star three times in the first set. In the nervy second set, Sinner found a way to break the British star in the eleventh game, eventually claiming a 6-2, 7-5 win at the Madrid Open.

He has extended his winning streak in an ATP Masters 1000 match to 25 matches and 20th consecutive victory on the court this season. After the match, Sinner expressed his frustration with his schedule at the Madrid Open. He appealed to the organizers to make an adjustment to the schedule:

But at the same time, I feel like we need to make some adjustments with the scheduling of the day. Two matches from 8 [pm] is very late, even though you have one day in between. But still, it’s very, very late; you finish at 1:30, and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. But we try to adapt ourselves, our bodies and minds. From my side, it was a good performance today.

Sinner will await the winner between Jodar and Kopriva ahead of the quarter-finals. The 24-year-old was spotted in the stands watching one of Jodar’s matches at the Madrid Open. The Spaniard defeated Joao Fonseca in the third round and has suffered just two defeats since exiting the Miami Open in the third round as a qualifier.

Jannik Sinner happy with his serving technique at the Madrid Open

Jannik Sinner is seeking his maiden Madrid Open title. He has never gone past the quarter-finals of the tournament. The last time Sinner reached the last eight of the Masters 1000 tournament was in 2024, but he pulled out of the tournament hours before his match due to an injury, which eventually forced him to miss the 2024 Italian Open.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Quindici Zero)

However, Sinner is currently in his best form this season and recently broke his almost four-year title drought on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters after beating Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the final. During the aforementioned on-court interview, Sinner admitted that his serving technique has been top-notch:

I felt like I was serving quite well today in the important moments. And this surface — it’s very, very different from all the other surfaces, so it’s very tough to get the right feedback. And sometimes, you feel like you’re not playing your best tennis, but from outside it seems like you are. And sometimes, it’s also the opposite.

Sinner now has a chance to stretch his lead over his arch-rival and World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP rankings. He’s not defending any ranking points at the Madrid Open, and Alcaraz didn’t feature in the tournament due to a wrist injury that he sustained in his opening match at the Barcelona Open.

Also Read: Alexander Zverev’s Mystery Injury Admission Raises Concerns Ahead of Madrid Open 4th Round