LONDON — The world’s top player, Jannik Sinner, is radiating positivity as he gears up to defend his Wimbledon title, emerging victorious from an exhibition match amid a blazing heatwave on Wednesday. Following a taxing experience during the French Open, Sinner has also confirmed he underwent necessary tests to address his physical struggles.
The talented Italian has opted out of any tour-level matches leading up to the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam, which kicks off this coming Monday, making his 6-3, 6-3 win over Cam Norrie in the sweltering heat sufficient preparation.
“It was really hot, but I felt great physically,” Sinner stated after the match during a press conference.
Participating in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, Sinner’s return comes just weeks after he endured a dizzying second-round defeat at the French Open.
“We conducted some tests to uncover what went wrong,” he explained. “We reached a conclusion that is very positive.”
The match took place amid a “red warning” for extreme heat issued by the UK’s weather service, highlighting the challenging conditions.
“As Cam noted, it was an incredibly hot day,” Sinner remarked in an on-court interview. “Exhibitions are great because we get to experiment with a few things to prepare ourselves for next week.”
When asked what specific strategies he was testing, a smiling Sinner quipped, “I’m not quite sure.”
Earlier in the day at the All England Club, he kept cool with a special vest during practice, while opting out of ice packs during the match—a significant shift from his usual routine.
The temperature in Fulham, where the grass-court event was taking place, climbed to a blistering 33°C, accompanied by a gentle breeze.
Lucky for the competitors, Monday’s forecast at Wimbledon predicts a more manageable 24°C.
During his French Open match, Sinner had a commanding lead of two sets and 5-1 in the third before shockingly falling to Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. The courtroom temperature reached 32°C, making it clear he struggled to stay cool as he grappled with multiple ice packs.
Despite his history of heat-related issues, Sinner avoided solely blaming the temperature after his defeat, stating, “A combination of factors led to this; I just need to take some time to understand what went wrong.”
Last year at Wimbledon, Sinner triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to capture his inaugural title. This year, Alcaraz will not participate due to a wrist injury.
The UK weather service has issued a warning predicting a “two- to three-day stretch” where temperatures could soar above 37°C, potentially hitting 38 to 40°C in some areas. The combination of intense heat and high humidity could worsen health risks and impede nighttime recovery.
Heat Affects Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament
Due to the heat advisories, ball boys and ball girls were excused from Wednesday’s matches at Wimbledon qualifiers, with their duties assumed by “our Court Services team — who are all adults,” according to the All England Club.
Additionally, there was a temporary power outage affecting part of the Roehampton qualifying venue, rendering the electronic line-calling system inoperable. The club mentioned that heat is being considered as a potential cause of the disruption.
