The reason why Sinner trains on hard court to prepare for Wimbledon

Jose Morón | 16 Jun 2026 | 13.25

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Wimbledon 2026 is just around the corner, and the next match of Jannik Sinner on the circuit is looming, following his early exit in the second round of Roland Garros. He and Novak Djokovic will be the main contenders to win in London, and all eyes are on them these days, with a recurring question as they watch the Italian training in Monte Carlo: why train on hard court to play on grass?

This is a much more common practice than it seems. More and more tennis players are deciding to follow this training plan before the second Grand Slam of the season.

The decision is not a whim. It responds to a common trend among the big names on the circuit: to reduce risks, control loads, and arrive in London with a fresh body.

Jannik Sinner and the logic of training away from grass

Grass is a special surface, but also one of the most treacherous for the body. The player needs to flex more, move with short steps, and accept that any wrong footwork can take its toll. In fact, it is the surface with the highest risk of injury that exists.

For Jannik Sinner, the priority is to build rhythm without exposing himself too much. A familiar hard court allows intensity and recovery to be adjusted more precisely than a week of competition, where schedules, opponents, and conditions change every day.

Moreover, not all the preparation for Wimbledon consists of "feeling" the grass. It is also necessary to refine serve, return, first shot, and decision-making. These automatisms can be worked on on a hard court before transferring them to the grass.

Novak Djokovic and a formula that no longer surprises as much

Novak Djokovic's case helps to understand why this strategy should not be seen as an improvisation. The Serbian has been carefully selecting his calendar for years, especially when it comes to Wimbledon.

Novak Djokovic has built an almost surgical relationship with the London grass. His seven Wimbledon titles and over 100 victories in the tournament explain why he does not need many previous matches. His formula of playing almost nothing on grass before Wimbledon and training on a hard court is something that other tennis players are replicating.

At 39 years old, any extra week can have a high cost. For a player who has won 24 Grand Slams, rationing efforts is not a concession but an essential tool.

The transition to Wimbledon 2026 depends not just on the surface

The question from many fans is reasonable: if Wimbledon 2026 is played on grass, why not train directly on grass? The answer lies in availability, quality, and wear. Not all courts offer conditions comparable to the All England Club. Therefore, the feelings from a tournament competition week do not necessarily match when playing at Wimbledon.

In Sinner's case, the data suggest a need to put the debate into perspective. The Italian has already proven that he can translate his aggressive tennis to grass, with a very high winning percentage at Wimbledon and a title that reinforced his status as a natural contender.

After a demanding spring, Jannik Sinner's team seeks to avoid unnecessary overload before an event that may require seven best-of-five set matches. There, freshness is almost as valuable as experience.

After seeing Sinner training on a hard court yesterday, many wondered:

Why train on hard court and not on grass?

This is something Djokovic popularized, barely playing tournaments before Wimbledon, also training on hard court.

There's a reason for this... https://t.co/EpS898ilxQ
— José Morón (@jmgmoron) June 16, 2026

A Calculated Bet, Not a Contradiction

Training on hard court before Wimbledon does not mean ignoring grass, but rather separating phases. First, the physical and technical base is consolidated in a safe context; then, movements, bounce, and ball reading are adjusted.

Many tennis players need preceding tournaments to gain confidence, but top figures can afford a more personalized preparation. For profiles like Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic, the goal is not to accumulate matches but to arrive with a full tank.

Grass rewards mental clarity, precision, and explosiveness. If training on hard court allows body protection and maintains intensity, it can be an advantage. Moreover, hard court is the surface that most closely resembles grass in terms of bounce and speed. In this way, training on hard court can serve as a perfect transition between clay and grass.

It would be like the intermediate step between one surface and another, with completely different supports and slides. On grass, you need to keep your center of gravity low and knees bent. Training on hard court helps the body gradually get used to it without making a sudden jump from 0 to 100.

Jannik Sinner approaches this phase towards Wimbledon 2026 with a defined idea: less competitive noise, more control, and attention to physical condition. In a tournament where any slip can alter a fortnight, the smartest preparation is not always the most obvious.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El motivo por el que Sinner entrena en pista dura para prepararse de cara a Wimbledon

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