Sinner: "I feel lighter after a year with so much weight on my shoulders"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 13 May 2025 | 23.34

Sinner: "I am lighter after a year with so much weight on my shoulders". Photo: Getty Images

Streaming ATP Stuttgart MD live tennis

🎾 Bublik/Kyrgios vs Paul/Seggerman

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

Jannik Sinner, little by little and match by match, is taking big steps towards regaining his best tennis. If his first two matches against Navone and De Jong were more of an introduction than a real challenge, his clash against Fran Cerúndolo became a litmus test to see where his game stood and how close he was to the top players on the circuit.

As expected, the Argentine pushed him in a closely contested match where the Italian had to raise his level. And he did, defeating a resilient Cerúndolo who faded towards the end, succumbing to the world number one (7-6(2), 6-3). Sinner, entering the Rome ATP with no expectations, is already in the quarterfinals. His next rival will come from the match between Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar. Before thinking about the next match, he stopped by the press conference to share feelings about his match against the Argentine, his performance in recent days, the possibility of not traveling to Hamburg, and the relief after finishing his doping suspension.

In the quarterfinals after a three-month break

"It's a great result, isn't it? I'm trying to position myself as best as possible to see what's happening. I mean, I'm glad there were so many tough situations today. That's exactly what I need, trying to find my rhythm again, trying to find my mental strength again, and all of that together."

Feelings after his big win

"Today was a great match. Obviously, I'm very happy to be able to play at least one more match. Let's see what comes next. Tomorrow is a rest day, I'll try to recover as best as possible, and hopefully, I'll be ready for the next one. For the first tournament, I'm very, very happy."

Challenge of playing against one of the best players of the moment

"I knew before the match that it was going to be very tough. It was a long day for both of us. Now we know each other a bit better because we played the last time we were here and a couple of times before that. We had a bit of an idea of what to expect. We practiced with him before the tournament, which gave us some insight on where to start."

"But the conditions today were very difficult. The day was very heavy. It was hard to overpower the opponent. The serving percentage was crucial today because with second serves, you can inflict more damage. I know he's a great, great player. We saw that also in the last tournament; this season, he's one of the best players. So, I'm happy, it's a good step forward for me. You always have to be focused because things can change very quickly."

Uncertainty about playing in Hamburg

"We have to see if I'll go to Hamburg, how I feel physically. The impact of a tournament is different. I already knew before the match that today I had to raise the level, and I also arrived much more focused, the warm-up was better. I could convey it, and the audience gave me a great round of applause. I'm trying to understand where my level is. I have to put in a bit more effort, taking it day by day. It's all part of the growth."

Released after a tense 2024

"Tennis must continue to be a game. I feel lighter after a year with so much weight on my shoulders. Now I don't have it anymore. There's no better place to play than on the Center Court of each tournament. It's always a great feeling to step onto the court, and all I can do is give my 100%," says Sinner, who aims to keep raising his level and aspirations at the Rome ATP.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner: "Estoy más ligero después de un año con tanto peso sobre mis hombros"

ATP