Jannik Sinner: His decision divides opinion: “He’s wrong,” “No, there’s a reason”
Why is Jannik Sinner training on hard courts instead of grass in preparation for Wimbledon? The tennis world is divided over the Italian’s decision, coming off a second-round loss at Roland Garros. As is well known, the world No. 1 has decided to skip all grass-court tournaments and return directly to the season’s third Grand Slam in London—a decision that has sparked debate but is based on clear reasoning.
In Monte Carlo, Sinner is training on hard courts, 13 days before his first match at Wimbledon: some have labeled his choice “illogical.” “There’s no doubt he’s already put himself at a disadvantage; the transition from clay to grass is very difficult,” wrote the specialized website tennis365. According to the article, the exhibition match at the Hurlingham Club won’t be enough to allow him to fully adapt to grass.
Others, however, fully understand Sinner’s choice, which mirrors Novak Djokovic’s recent decisions. “More and more tennis players are deciding to follow this training program ahead of the third Grand Slam of the season,” wrote the website Puntodebreak. “Grass is a unique surface, but also one of the most treacherous for the body (…). In fact, it’s the surface with the highest risk of injury of all.”
The Italian player therefore wants to minimize the risks so he can arrive in London in top form. These days, Sinner is fine-tuning his serve and return—techniques he can practice on a hard court without any problems. Djokovic himself has repeatedly used this strategy in recent years, skipping preliminary matches on grass. Furthermore, the feel of training on a grass court isn’t necessarily the same as at the All England Club.
Sinner has weighed his options and decided to prioritize his physical condition without overloading his training regimen. His goal is to prove himself at Wimbledon, and the champion from Sesto Pusteria is weighing every detail. In any case, the Italian will leave for London this weekend, where he can focus on adapting to grass.
