When Jannik Sinner was 17 years old and strolling around the players’ hotel at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where he was participating as a wild card in qualification, the legendary tennis player Roger Federer gave him some advice.
Federer’s coach at the moment, Severin Luthi, abruptly stopped Sinner. Federer had won the Halle nine times. Sinner claimed that Luthi requested a practice match with Federer so that the 20-time Grand Slam winner could be well-prepared for his clash.
Sinner said in a recent interview: “I remember Luthi stopping me on the stairs of the hotel and asking me if I could warm [Federer] up for his match. I said, ‘Of course, yes.’ It was a very good feeling, a special feeling.”
Federer went on to win his tenth and final title at Halle that year. For the first time in his career, Sinner is ranked #1 in the ATP Rankings and is the top seed this year. Despite never having faced off in a competitive match, the 22-year-old Italian recalls Federer’s advice.
Sinner further said: “I didn’t have the chance to play against Roger in an official match, and this is something that I will always miss, but I do remember the practice sessions with him. I didn’t have many, so I do remember every single one, more or less. He gave me just this kind of mental advice: try to enjoy it and keep looking forward to working hard. That’s the only thing he told me, and it was very nice to share a court with him.”
Jannik Sinner in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW Ranked no.1, the Italian played his last match on the 7th of June when he was defeated by world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the semifinal of the French Open (draw).
This season the Italian has an overall 33-3 match record. The Italian conquered 3 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Miami.
Jannik Sinner will come up against the world no.23 Tallon Griekspoor in the 1st round. Their record is 4-0 for Sinner.
The Italian clinched 3 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Miami.
Sinner won 14 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 7 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner is scheduled to play next in Halle (Terra Wortmann Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 17th of June.
