Tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner ‘more confident’ for Wimbledon after first title on grass

HALLE – Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner said he is “more confident” about his Wimbledon prospects after he won his first grass-court title by edging out his doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (7-2) in the Halle Open final on June 23.

The victory marks the 22-year-old Australian Open champion’s 14th singles career title.

With Wimbledon – the jewel of the grass-court swing – starting on July 1, he said: “I’m just looking forward to it. Last year I made (the) semis, I played some good tennis. So let’s see what’s coming this year.

“I’m more confident, for sure. Obviously the grass, it might be a bit different from here and Wimbledon. But I have one week now to prepare so, hopefully, it’s going to be a good tournament.”

Poland’s Hurkacz and Sinner, who played together in the Halle Open doubles, each saved a break point in the first set, traded aces and held serve, forcing a tiebreak which Sinner won.

The top seed had a chance to go 2-0 up in the second set, but Hurkacz saved two break points as both players again held their serves before Sinner claimed the title after another tiebreak.

“It’s inspiring what you’ve been doing the last 12 months. Jannik becoming No. 1 in the world is really special. I try to learn from that. Big congrats,” Hurkacz told Sinner.

The Italian also congratulated fifth seed Hurkacz, who won the Halle Open in 2022, for reaching another final.

“We’re very good friends off court... seeing us play the final here is very special. Thank you so much,” he said.

Meanwhile, confusion surrounded the Wimbledon fate of two-time former champion Andy Murray after back surgery appeared to rule him out of the 2024 tournament.

The Scot had been aiming to make a farewell appearance at the Grand Slam, which he won in 2013 and 2016, but the 37-year-old will need an expected six weeks to recover from a spinal cyst operation.

He now also faces a race against time to be fit for the July 27-Aug 4 tennis programme at the Paris Olympics, with Murray twice a gold medallist in the singles.

The ATP Tour, in a post on X, said on June 23 that Murray had been ruled out of Wimbledon but the post was subsequently deleted, with neither Murray nor his management company confirming if he will be appearing at Wimbledon.

Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, however, said Murray has not yet made a decision on Wimbledon.

“He obviously went through a procedure yesterday (Saturday) and you have to wait and see now. My understanding is no decision has been made and let’s hope for the best for Andy,” Smith told the BBC.

In other finals action on June 23, Jessica Pegula saved five match points against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya to win her first title on grass in the Wimbledon warmup WTA tournament in Berlin.

Fourth seed Pegula pulled through 6-7 (0-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) after earlier ousting top seed Coco Gauff in their semi-final which had been suspended overnight.

Pegula had been leading fellow American Gauff 7-5, 6-6 (3-1) when last-four action was halted on June 22. She returned to court on June 23 to win four of five points to oust doubles partner Gauff 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) and reach her first grass-court final.

“Jess, you’re such a fighter, it’s nice to see you back on tour. Couldn’t wish for a better comeback,” said Kalinskaya, after her second defeat in as many meetings with Pegula.

The victory came in the American’s second tournament of her comeback from the rib injury that forced her out of the European clay-court season.

Berlin is Pegula’s fifth career title and first since winning in Seoul in 2023.

Over at the Birmingham WTA Tour event, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva also won her first senior grass-court singles title after defeating Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) in the final.

The 29-year-old’s previous two WTA tour titles had come on clay, in Nuremberg in 2019 and Budapest in 2021.

But on June 23, she prevailed in nearly 90 minutes on court after coming from 5-3 down – and saving two set points – in the second set.

“I don’t know what I’m feeling because I wasn’t expecting this at all,” Putintseva said.

“It’s great and it’s confusing because I’ve always been good on clay but, now all of a sudden, I’m good on grass. I’ll take that! It’s great!”

In yet another grass-court breakthrough, American Tommy Paul defeated Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) to win the Queen’s Club final on June 23. REUTERS, AFP