Sinner aims at one of the 'tough opponents' on grass: "It will be a match with an uncertain prediction"

Fernando Murciego | 17 Jun 2025 | 18.39

Jannik Sinner debuts with victory in Halle 2025. Source: Getty

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Just one week of rest has passed for the finalists of Roland Garros to resume action on this endless circuit. In the case of Jannik Sinner, his journey on this grass tour began at the ATP 500 in Halle, where he defends his title. The Italian easily defeated Yannick Hanfmann (7-5, 6-3) to start off on the right foot and will now face Alexander Bublik in the next match, but that is a discussion for another time. First, let's hear from the World No. 1 analyzing his recent victory on Tennis TV.

"I am very happy with how the match went; you never know what can happen in a situation like this, in your first match of the season on a new surface. I knew my opponent well; I know how tough he can be from the baseline, as well as being a great server. Breaking his serve is quite a challenge, especially here on grass, so I am happy with how I managed this test, both in tennis terms and especially mentally," he commented after stopping the clock at 90 minutes of play.

"The first set was close to going to a tiebreak, until those last moments when everything got a bit crazy; anything could have happened. For many of us, it's the first match of the year on grass. We'll see what awaits me in the next round; for now, I will have a rest day tomorrow, which is very positive. Everything feels a bit different when we get to this part of the calendar," said a man who ended his last grass season with a title in Halle and a Wimbledon quarterfinal. However, Jannik himself confirmed that even he struggles with the transition from clay to grass.

"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 grass before Wimbledon arrives; it was very important to me. We'll take it day by day; for me, it's key to stay calm and focused on the court, to hold my service games and always look to cause damage when it's time to return," said the three-time Grand Slam champion.

CHALLENGES IN THE SECOND ROUND

Although we know that grass is not for everyone, we also know that there is a group of players to avoid during June and July. One of them is precisely Sinner's next opponent, the fine player Alexander Bublik. After reaching the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time, where he fell to the World No. 1, the Kazakh is coming in strong and eager to reaffirm himself on his favorite surface. The H2H between them favors the Italian at 4-1, although that lone loss came two years ago in this same tournament. Reasons to worry? At least for approaching that match with caution.

"It's a match with completely uncertain predictions; he is a tremendous player with immense talent, and we all know that grass is his favorite surface. He already defeated me on this same surface, in this same tournament; I remember he was champion here a couple of seasons ago. Like any other fan, I love watching him compete in these conditions, so I will try to be relaxed to face that match, make the right decisions on the court, and give myself the chance to keep progressing this week. He is a great server, overflowing with talent; sometimes it seems he can do whatever he wants with the ball. Hopefully, we'll have a nice match," concluded the champion.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner apunta a uno de los ‘cocos’ sobre hierba: ”Será un partido de pronóstico incierto”