Ljubicic and Sinner's chances on grass: "He should be fine, but he won't have the same feel as Alcaraz"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 26 Jun 2025 | 14.27

Ljubicic, on Sinner's options on grass: "He should be fine, but he won't have the same feelings as Alcaraz." Photo: Getty Images

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A new Grand Slam just around the corner. After many fans are still recovering from the Roland Garros final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Wimbledon makes its appearance with both once again as top favorites. However, following the mental high for the Spaniard after clinching the title in Paris, along with his ability to adapt to grass and his two titles in London, make him more favored than the world number one, who must recover from those three match points he failed to convert in the Parisian major.

One who believes that the Murcian has better chances is Ivan Ljubicic. The former Croatian tennis player and ex-coach of Roger Federer, the Wimbledon king, commented on the Spanish and the Italian, as well as the prospects of Novak Djokovic and the roles of Lorenzo Musetti or Jack Draper. All this in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by Ubitennis.

Fascinated by Alcaraz's rapid adaptation

The Croatian is aware of the challenge of transitioning abruptly from clay to grass. In fact, he never excelled on this surface (reaching the third round in 2006 and 2007 was his best result at Wimbledon), so he is surprised to see how easily Carlitos adjusts to the grass: "Alcaraz has everything to play well on grass. He responds well, moves well, is very powerful. But it's not a surprise, as he quickly found the feeling. It's a special surface: either you find your feet quickly or you struggle. It's been tough for me throughout my career. Federer, like Carlos, quickly found the feeling."

Ljubicic delves into the difficulties he faced on this surface, especially during his time when the grass was faster and the bounce lower and more uneven: "I found it difficult to move, return, serve. I was a great hitter, but I couldn't serve on grass. Moving is complicated, and today's grass is tailored for counterattacking: those who hit and come to the net don't go much further. The ball bounces much higher, much more evenly. I remember that in my time, in the first days of the tournament, it was almost impossible to hit because the ball bounced below knee level. Today it bounces almost like on cement."

He was asked about Sinner's chances at Wimbledon, where he reached the semifinals in 2023: "On paper, he should be fine, but I don't think he has the same feelings as Carlos. The Spaniard moves well, has great balance. But Sinner, starting with his serve, is also improving on grass. It's a surface where, if you like to have everything under control, you feel less comfortable."

He was also asked about the match of the year that will not be forgotten, the historic Roland Garros final, and the mental blow that Sinner may carry from that missed opportunity: "It was a big blow, a tough blow. But you know how you erase such a blow? If you move forward and have the chance to win another Grand Slam. The good thing is now, because if it happens in Paris, you have three weeks and return to competition immediately. If it happens in New York, you have to wait until Australia, and from Australia to Paris is even longer."

The former world number three also believes that Alcaraz has got into Sinner's head, especially after beating him in their last five encounters: "He might be obsessed because ultimately he's the only one beating him, and when you lose against a player, it's obvious your mind stops there. That's the knot Jannik has to undo right now. He will surely spend time studying how to beat Carlos, but the Spaniard is not the type to lend a hand in this regard. There's not much you can do against Alcaraz, the outcome of the match depends a lot on him. So it's obvious that Jannik is suffering right now."

Federer's ex-coach wanted to mention a name that can never be ruled out at the London major, one that troubled the Swiss in recent years at Wimbledon: "You haven't forgotten about Djokovic, have you? Someone who has won Wimbledon seven times can never be considered out of the game. Moreover, Roland Garros has put him back in top form: he is doing well and very motivated," warns the Banja Luka native.

Although all eyes are on Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic, Ljubicic also mentioned three players who could pose a threat during these two weeks at the London major: "Unlike last year, Lorenzo Musetti arrives without a grass tournament under his belt, which could pose challenges, but I think he needs to be closely monitored. Jack Draper plays at home and is a very natural grass player. And lastly, let's see what Matteo Berrettini does: if he is fit, if he starts the tournament well. Hopefully, Wimbledon brings him pleasant memories".

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ljubicic y las opciones de Sinner en hierba: "Debería estar bien, pero no tendrá las mismas sensaciones que Alcaraz"