Jannik Sinner is facing a race against time to be fit for the French Open and it appears a final decision on his participation in Roland Garros is yet to be made.
Reports in Italy earlier this week suggested the world No 2 was likely to be the second Grand Slam of the tennis year, as he battles with a hip problem that forced him to pull out of the Madrid Open earlier this month.
Hip issues are a major fear for tennis players as the lateral movement required in this sport demands flexibility in the hip joint.
There are rumours that Sinner has been told to take a break from tennis to ensure his hip problem does not become chronic and affect his ambitions beyond the next few weeks.
Yet it seems the 22-year-old has not given up on his Roland Garros dream just yet, with Italian sources suggesting he has spent the last week at the J-Medical centre in Turin, which is linked to Italian football giants Juventus.
“J|Medical was devised by Juventus and Hexperience Medical Division S.r.l., bringing together the medical expertise of Italy’s biggest football club and the experience of one of the country’s leading healthcare operators in an innovative, first-rate set-up,” reads the description of the medical facility on their website.
“This includes a team of 60 top-level specialists, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, an avant-garde medical rehabilitation centre befitting of professional athletes, multi-speciality clinics, two operating theatres for outpatient surgery and an organisational structure that enables patients to plan their recovery path without wasting time.
“The centre is situated next to Juventus Museum in Allianz Stadium’s East Stand. It offers first-rate medical treatment, stringent clinical procedures and state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, all housed within a modern 3500m2 facility designed for comfort and efficiency, with outdoor areas for rehabilitation.”
Sinner has certainly had the best medical treatment on offer for sports stars in Italy at J-Medical and when a fan asked him outside the entrance to the facility whether he would be fit to play at the French Open, he simply replied with a smile: “Let’s see”.
That suggests a final decision may not have been made by the player who will become Italy’s first singles No 1 in tennis history if Novak Djokovic does not make the final of this year’s French Open.
Of course, Sinner would prefer to rise to the top of the rankings with wins of his own at Roland Garros, with six-time Grand Slam champion Paul Haarhuis telling Tennis365 that the 22-year-old is destined for greatness if he can steer clear of injuries throughout his career.
“For an Italian, Sinner has a coolness we don’t normally see,” Netherlands Davis Cup captain Paul Haarhuis told Tennis365.
“The Italian players are often dramatic like they are in a theatre and they are going to take the lead role. Someone like Fabio Foggini did this and it was great, you get the popcorn and watch his match.
“Sinner is the German/Italian who just goes about his business and doesn’t look to get a lot of attention.
“His decision, his shot selection and everything about his game is so wonderful to watch. He is such a great player already.
“I love how humble he stays, how nice he is. He says hello to everybody, I love that from him. He is a great guy.
“With Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz coming along, it feels to me like tennis is in a great place for many years to come.”