Jannik Sinner had to give up at the French Open. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK
This is just bitter! Jannik Sinner was on his way to a gala in the round of 16 at the French Open against superstar Andrey Rublev on Monday. But the body didn’t play along again.
30. May 2022
From: det
These pictures make the fan heart bleed! Jannik Sinner was once again robbed of a great opportunity at the French Open on Monday – by his own body. The 20-year-old Sextner (ATP 12) initially showed off in world-class fashion in his round of 16, played cat and mouse with the Russian Rublev, number 7 in the world, and won the first set 6-1. But then Sinner’s physique went on strike again: The problems on his left knee, which he has had for a few days, became so great during the match that the Pusterer had to give up when the score was 6:1, 4:6, 0:2.
Once again, sinners are causing headaches with physical problems. At the beginning of the year, a corona infection put him out of action, and in March he was unable to play the round of 16 against Nick Kyrgios in Indian Wells due to illness. In Miami, two weeks later, he dropped out of his quarter-final against Francisco Cerundolo after just five games because of a blister on his foot. And in Rome his hip bothered him, although he was able to avoid a task there. Now the bitter pill at the French Open, Pusterer’s favorite Grand Slam.
Great tennis, but then…
The match against Andrey Rublev had started so well for Sinner. Although the sextner again had a tape on his injured left knee, he moved as quickly as a gazelle, put in extremely hard shots, kept his error rate extremely low and made two breaks at the same time. In short: Sinner played world-class tennis, his opponent Rublev may no longer have understood the world.
Jannik Sinner played outstandingly in the first set. © ANSA / YOAN VALAT
The tide turned in the second set, in the fifth game to be precise. After a rally – which was equivalent to 3:2 for Rublev – the South Tyrolean suddenly limped and had to take a medical timeout. The physiotherapist massaged the youngster’s left thigh and after a few minutes we continued. But from then on, every point was torture.
The pain is too great
Sinner clearly had trouble dragging his body across the pitch. Nevertheless – and this is remarkable – he still held out and scored some spectacular points, but he couldn’t avert the 4:6. In the third section, “Jan” wanted to try again, but it was useless: the pain was too great. With a disappointed, even sad expression on his face, Sinner finally walked to the middle of the field after 80 minutes, signaled his task and then left the pitch – his face covered with a towel. One or two tears may have flowed, but who can blame Sinner.
