The young Italian analyzed his 1st round of Wimbledon against Hanfmann in the press conference, then focusing on the 2nd round match against Berrettini
Jannik Sinner made his Wimbledon debut as ATP No.1 and made the difference when his courageous and aggressive opponent Yannick Hanfmann raised the level. Yet being the first Italian in history to start a Major as number 1 in the men’s ranking could have entailed a load of emotions that were not exactly easy to manage. The Italian responded positively when he had to, found the acceleration he needed and defeated the German 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, collecting victory number 51 in a Major.
For him in the second round there will be an interesting derby with Matteo Berrettini, who overcame Marton Fucsovics and his back problems. Yannick Hanfmann worried Sinner in the second and third sets, finding incredible plays. Then Sinner raised the level and reached Berrettini in the second round. The two Italians have challenged each other on only one occasion – at the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto in 2023 – and Sinner dominated the match, finishing 6-4 6-3.
In the post-match press conference, Jannik analyzed the challenge that awaits him in the second round of the Championships against his countryman.
“In the first round the courts are a little more slippery so you have to be a little more careful. Then with the roof closed it became a little drier, a little easier. However, this is grass, you can’t always control everything and it must be accepted. You also need to have patience. Berrettini knows how to play very well, he reached the final. It will be a tough, difficult match, I saw him today and he played well. I can’t tell you anyone worse than him, but the scoreboard is like this and it’s also useless to comment. I expect a very tough match, a little different because he serves well and it’s the surface where he plays best. I want to take it as a challenge to see where my level is, to see how I’m playing. I only have one precedent, we played in Toronto. We know each other quite well, just as we don’t really know each other that much. He started winning immediately on grass,” he explained.
Regarding his complicated first round, Sinner said: “After the first two sets the match became more complicated than I expected. From a certain point onwards he played very well and it wasn’t easy to contain him at all. I hope for the second round to raise my level of play and let’s see what will happen. This is grass, you can’t always control everything. He pushed, he broke my serve and I struggled to return. Finding my response in the fourth set was positive. I think it’s a privilege to be in the position I’m in. Playing a Slam as number one is a wonderful feeling, but in every match you start from zero to zero. And everyone naturally wants to win.”
Berrettini, in the post match, analyzed the match that awaits him against Sinner.
“It’s my fault, or rather the injuries that made me drop a lot in the rankings. Tennis is like that and the draw is a random thing, you have to accept it. I knew it could happen and I don’t think he’s too happy either. The only hope I can make is that this is the last time Jannik and I meet in this round, and I hope we can meet further and further in the Grand Slam tournaments. I know well the scoreboard that awaits me and I will watch Sinner’s challenge, he can’t do better than that but having me so close I don’t think he’ll like it. I was good at managing a physical and non-tennis problem, I started to feel a problem in my back and I got scared, this thing made me leave the match,” he said.