Jannik Sinner wants to use Madrid to boost career Grand Slam chances
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Italy's Jannik Sinner has not yet won the French Open, which will run from May 24 to June 7.
PHOTO: AFP
- Jannik Sinner's main goal is to be in "best possible shape" for Roland Garros, the only Grand Slam on clay he has not yet won.
- Sinner anticipates a challenging Madrid Open due to altitude and wind, where he has never progressed past the quarter-finals.
- Sinner expressed regret over the absences of "biggest stars" Carlos Alcaraz (wrist injury) and Novak Djokovic from Madrid.
AI generated
MADRID – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner said on April 21 his principal aim as he prepares for the Madrid Open is to be in the “best possible shape” for Roland Garros in May and June, as he seeks to complete a career Grand Slam.
The 24-year-old Italian won his first big title on clay earlier in April as he downed Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the Monte Carlo Masters final.
Next, he turns his attention to the 1000-level event in Madrid as the clay-court season ramps up towards the only Grand Slam tournament he has not yet won – the French Open, which runs from May 24 to June 7.
“I never played very well here, so let’s see how it goes this year,” Sinner, who has never got past the quarter-finals in the Spanish capital, told reporters before beginning his Madrid Open campaign.
“I’m trying to improve as a player and here might be one of the most challenging ones because of certain things (altitude and wind).”
Despite being heavily favoured to pick up a fifth consecutive Masters title, he revealed that for him “the most important is Roland Garros”.
“We try to maximise to be in the best possible shape there, but I’m here trying to do my best and then we’ll see how it goes,” he added.
Sinner lost an all-time classic Roland Garros final in 2025 to Alcaraz, despite holding three championship points.
He also said he regretted the absences of the world No. 2 Alcaraz and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Madrid due to injury.
“It’s a very big pity to not have (Alcaraz) here and also Novak, the two biggest stars in tennis,” Sinner said.
“We have shared since last year a lot of tournaments, but again, in my mind I also know if I want to play against Carlos it’s in the final and the way to the final is very long.”
Top seed Sinner will start his Madrid Open campaign in the second round later this week against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
In the women’s draw, Filipino star Alexandra Eala enjoyed a strong start to her campaign on April 22, moving past Russian qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round at the event for the third straight year.
The 20-year-old needed 1hr 31min to dismiss her opponent and book a clash with 19th-seed Elise Mertens.
The 34-year-old Pavlyuchenkova, who was a semi-finalist in the Spanish capital in 2021 and is ranked 116th in the world, is 0-6 in tour-level main draw matches so far this season.
Pavlyuchenkova, who was playing with a heavily strapped right upper thigh, committed close to 40 unforced errors in what was her first meeting with Eala.
Eala, who has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for almost eight years, said: “I feel really great. I love Madrid, it’s an amazing tournament. Every time I come here, I feel very comfortable, I feel like I’m at home.”
A day earlier, Venus Williams was knocked out in the first round as the 45-year-old went down to Kaitlin Quevedo.
The 20-year-old Spanish wild card beat the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion 6-2, 6-4.
Ranked 479th in the world, Williams has lost all seven singles matches she has played this season. It was her first match on clay since a first-round exit at Roland Garros five years ago. AFP
