Jannik Sinner Gives His Take on Ball and Court Condition Debate: “The Issue is Broader”
Jannik Sinner is chasing his second ATP 500 title of the season at the Vienna Open, which he won in 2023.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)
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During the Laver Cup, there was a great deal of debate regarding the court and ball conditions after Roger Federer made surprising claims. He said the tournament directors are deliberately slowing the courts to benefit Jannik Sinner, and this could see him lock horns with Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Alexander Zverev echoed similar sentiments during the Shanghai Masters. Sinner, however, shrugged off when he was asked about Zverev’s accusations, saying both he and Alcaraz also have to adapt to different conditions, slow or fast.
Sinner is in Vienna, bidding to win his second title in the tournament. In his pre-tournament press conference, Sinner once again gave his opinion regarding the tournament conditions.
Conditions aren’t the same everywhere and change every year: temperature, humidity, wind—many factors influence it. It’s not just about balls; the issue is broader, more important; it’s not just about balls or schedules, but I prefer not to go into details. In some tournaments, the balls are faster; in others, they aren’t. Every week is different. Many things could be changed, but it’s not just about balls.
Sinner will be locking horns with Daniel Altmaier in the first round and will aim to increase his head-to-head lead to 3-1. The lone defeat he suffered was in the second round of the 2023 Roland Garros.
Sinner is chasing his fourth title of the season following his wins at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the China Open. Prior to Vienna, Sinner was in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam exhibition event, ending his campaign with a straight-set win over Alcaraz, pocketing $6 million as prize money.
Jannik Sinner recalls his tough match against Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 Vienna Open
Jannik Sinner lifted the 2023 Vienna Open with a three-set win over Daniil Medvedev. The four-time Grand Slam champion remembers the match vividly as he had to toil for more than three hours to clinch the victory.
Sinner will meet Medvedev once again if both progress to the final. The Italian ace, in the pre-tournament press conference, recalled the tough match.
That 2023 final against Medvedev was a very long and very tough match that definitely gave me a lot. Both Daniil and I have changed a lot. Compared to two years ago, we are two different players, and we always want to be better than before, and I think we’ve achieved that.
Sinner edges the Russian ace 8-7 in the head-to-head meetings, also winning their last three encounters, including in the quarterfinals of the 2024 US Open, which Sinner later won by defeating home favorite Taylor Fritz.
The 2021 US Open champion will be playing his opening-round match against Nuno Borges. Medvedev is also a former champion in Vienna, winning it in 2022 by defeating Denis Shapovalov in three sets.
Before arriving in Vienna, the 29-year-old ended his trophy drought by defeating Corentin Moutet at the Almaty Open. It was his first title since the 2023 Italian Open.
Jannik Sinner will skip the Davis Cup Finals
Also in his pre-tournament press conference, Sinner announced he won’t be featuring in the Davis Cup Finals, scheduled to be held in Bologna from November 18. Because of the long season, Sinner has decided to take an extra week off and start his pre-season training earlier. Sinner won the Davis Cup with Italy in 2023 and 2024, winning every match he played.
Twice this season, Sinner retired mid-match. An illness stopped him from completing his Cincinnati Masters final, while at the Shanghai Open, he retired mid-match due to cramps. After Vienna, Sinner will play two events- the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.
Also read: Alexander Zverev Responds to Boris Becker’s Criticism of him Being “a Problem Child”
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