Jannik Sinner: Boris Becker Delivers Harsh Words About the Italian Star

Jannik Sinner heads into the second week of Wimbledon with a mix of conflicting emotions. His withdrawal from Roland Garros—which came just when everyone was expecting him to triumph in Paris—left a trail of doubts that the courts in London have not yet fully dispelled. Among tennis insiders, there are those who are watching him with the curiosity typically reserved for wounded champions: among them is Boris Becker, who shared his thoughts during an appearance on ‘Sky TG24’.

“Sinner needs to feel the same way he did last year,” said the former German champion. “In his first match, he was nervous; he almost went home, but in the second match it went better, and in the third even better. Sunday’s match was an easy one: in fact, he hasn’t been seriously tested yet.”

“He needs to reach his peak in the second week: if Sinner wins in the quarterfinals, he’ll be the best in the final stages of the tournament,” Becker added. He certainly knows a thing or two about Wimbledon, having won the title three times—defeating John McEnroe in the 1985 final, Ivan Lendl in 1986, and Stefan Edberg in 1989.

Jannik Sinner will face Jan-Lennart Struff, currently ranked No. 74 in the world, in the quarterfinals: the German, despite not being among the favorites, has so far put together a top-notch run, defeating, in order, Sebastian Baez, Brandon Nakashima, and Daniil Medvedev, before advancing due to Hubert Hurkacz’s withdrawal in the round of 16—with Struff leading 4-2 in the fifth set at the time.