'I feel at home': Jannik Sinner embraces Halle’s laid-back vibe ahead of title defence

Jannik Sinner is not just back at the Halle Open to defend his title: he is back to where he feels most at ease.

As the Italian star settles into the grass-court season, he has found comfort not only in the courts of the OWL Arena, but in the city’s relaxed atmosphere.

In a pre-tournament press conference interview Sinner said: "I like this tournament. It’s a little different because you sleep next to the courts. So you’re less stressed and you can organize your day differently, with training and everything else.".

The proximity and ease of the Halle setup seem to suit Sinner well. Fresh off a season that saw him win his maiden Grand Slam in Australia and rise to the top of the ATP rankings, the 23-year-old is navigating new territory, but doing so with composure.

The Italian No. 1 said, "For me, since last year, some things have changed. I’m in a different situation, so I feel at home here because this is the first tournament I’ve played as world number one. It’s the first time you feel these emotions, and here I am back.".

The two time Australian Open champion also mentioned how his return to the grass courts of Halle comes with a growing sense of maturity in his game. He credits much of his recent success to improving on grass as it was once a surface that challenged him.

"I think a good grass player is someone who moves well. The ball bounces a little sometimes, that’s the nature of grass,” he said. “And you have to hit the ball intelligently. But I think, overall, this is a surface on which I clearly improved last year. Now let’s see how it goes this year.".

Still reeling from an epic five-hour and 29-minute battle at Roland Garros, where he held three match points before ultimately falling to Carlos Alcaraz in a gripping 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) defeat, Sinner admitted the loss continues to weigh heavily on him and has even led to sleepless nights. Nevertheless, he remains focused and is determined to move forward.

As the top seed, Jannik Sinner begins his title defence in Halle against a qualifier, a potentially manageable opening to his campaign. However, the draw suggests a challenging path ahead, featuring a mix of familiar rivals and grass-court specialists.

In the second round, Sinner could face either Alexander Bublik or Alexandre Muller. A potential quarter-final clash could see Sinner meet Hubert Hurkacz, last year’s finalist in Halle. Should Sinner advance further, the semi-finals and final may feature top-tier opposition such as Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev, or Alexander Zverev, depending on how the draw unfolds. Each of these players presents a unique challenge, particularly on a surface where small margins often decide matches.

All in all, a strong showing here could serve as both redemption and a momentum boost ahead of Wimbledon.