Jannik Sinner Admits He Still Struggles With Transition From Clay to Grass After Getting 1st Win in Halle

Jannik Sinner has kick-started his campaign in the grass swing. He is participating at the Halle Open to defend his title as well as lift his second trophy on the surface.

Sinner has not yet learned to adapt quickly to grass after the clay swing. The transition from clay to grass is considered one of the toughest challenges and Sinner admitted that he too has struggled while switching from clay to grass. Following his win over home favorite Yannick Hanfmann, 7-5, 6-3, Sinner told Tennis TV:

It’s not easy, I can assure you, although it may seem different from the outside. It takes time to find that adaptation; you can’t practice as much as you’d like before facing that first match. So, I am happy to have at least one more match on the grass before Wimbledon arrives; it was very important to me.

Sinner, who won the Umag Open in 2022 by beating Carlos Alcaraz, came close to doubling his clay-court titles tally twice but both times, the Spaniard ruined his chances. Before arriving in Halle, Sinner lost to the five-time Grand Slam champion in the Italian Open and the French Open finals.

At Roland Garros, he made the final for the first time and took a 2-0 and also had three championship points in the fourth set but he failed to convert them. Alcaraz needed five hours and 29 minutes (longest French Open final) to beat Sinner and defend his crown but he won’t have a chance to meet the Italian before Wimbledon as he is in London, bidding for his fourth grass-court title at the Queen’s Club Championships.

Jannik Sinner to meet Alexander Bublik in the second round

Jannik Sinner has a tough challenge in the second round in the form of Alexander Bublik, who is chasing his second title at the Halle Open following his victory in 2023. En route to his first grass-court title, Bublik received a walkover from the 23-year-old in the quarterfinals.