Sinner reveals the advice that Federer gave him in Halle | ATP Tour

Halle

Sinner reveals the advice Federer gave him in Halle

The Italian will face Griekspoor in the ATP 500 in his first match as world No. 1

June 15, 2024

In June 2019, at just 17 years old, Jannik Sinner was walking through the players’ hotel at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, where he was participating thanks to an invitation in the qualifying phase. Suddenly, he ran into Severin Luthi, coach of then nine-time champion Roger Federer.

“I remember Luthi stopped me on the hotel stairs and asked me if I could warm up. [de Federer] before his match,” Sinner told ATPTour.com on Saturday before competing in the German ATP 500. “I said, ‘of course!’ “It was a pretty special feeling.”

The Swiss legend would win his 10th and final Halle title that year. Sinner competes this season as the top seed and, for the first time in his career, as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Although they never faced each other on the circuit, the Italian keeps the advice that Federer transmitted to him that week fresh.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to play against Roger in an official match, and this is something I will always miss. But I remember those training sessions with him,” said Sinner. “I couldn’t do it many times, so I remember more or less every one of them. He gave me some good advice: try to enjoy yourself and still want to work hard. That’s the only thing he told me, it was very nice to share a track with him.”

Sinner arrives in Halle having compiled a record of 33-3 this season, including his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. Having crossed that threshold at Melbourne Park and becoming the first Italian to reach World No. 1, could winning the first trophy on grass be the next goal for Jannik in 2024?

“It would be something pretty special, because we don’t have too many grass tournaments throughout the year,” Sinner said. “I’m only going to compete here and at Wimbledon, so I’ll have two chances.” [este año]. Overall, it’s great to be back on the grass.”

“It is different. The first day you have to adjust to the movements on the surface and it is somewhat complicated. Especially when you face in the first rounds players who have already competed on grass. They already have that touch, but this is a place where they trusted for me, they gave me an invitation years ago. I feel happy to return and I hope I can play good tennis.”

Sinner will need a quick adaptation to German grass against Tallon Griekspoor in the first round. The Dutchman, world No. 23, reached the semifinals this week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where he will lift the trophy in 2023. Sinner will enter the duel dominating the Lexus ATP Head2Head record 4-0.

“It will be very complicated. In general he is a good player on grass,” Sinner acknowledged about his next rival. “He serves and volleys a lot, he volleys really well. It will be a difficult match, but I’m looking forward to starting to compete on grass.”

“It will be a good test for me, to see where my level is on grass. I’m going to give it my all, I’m looking forward to meeting the fans. The atmosphere is good and I’m going to try to enjoy it.”