"The first matches on grass are always tricky," says Sinner after his win against Hanfmann in Halle
Jannik Sinner has advanced to the round of 16 at the ATP 500 tournament in Halle. In his debut on German grass, the world No. 1 defeated Yannick Hanfmann (7-5, 6-3) and delivered a solid performance in his first match on the surface since Wimbledon last year.
Clearly, the Italian has recovered well, both physically and mentally, after his heartbreaking loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland-Garros final. The man himself shared his thoughts after the victory.
"I’m very happy with the win—you never know how things will go. Yannick (Hanfmann) is an excellent baseliner, and he serves really well.
"Breaking his serve is very tough on this surface. I’m pleased with how I handled it. The first set could have gone to a tiebreak, but overall, I’m satisfied with my performance.
"The first matches on grass are always tricky. Tomorrow is a day off, which is good. My body reacts differently from one surface to another.
"Adjusting to grass takes time, so I’m glad to get a few matches under my belt before Wimbledon. That’s the most important thing for me. I try to stay mentally calm, hold my service games, and see what I can do when returning.
"From what I saw today, I’m happy with how I played," he said before looking ahead to his next match against Alexander Bublik, scheduled for Thursday, for a spot in the quarterfinals.
"Alexander (Bublik) is a very good player, a big talent. Grass is his favorite surface—he’s beaten me here in Halle before, and he’s won the tournament. So it’s a place where he feels comfortable and enjoys playing.
"He can do anything he wants with the ball. We’ll see. I just hope it’ll be a good match," concluded the Italian in his post-match interview with ATP media after facing Hanfmann.
