Jannik Sinner showed a tremendous amount of heart in playing through punishing heat and injury. He went on to win a closely contested semifinal match against Eliot Spizzirri in the fourth round of this year’s tournament. It was the environmental conditions during the match that were most worthy of attention, with a heat stress level of 5. Against all odds, Sinner won the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The sweltering heat broke records, as the temperatures climbed to 36 degrees Celsius. Sinner’s mental fortitude and good fortune contributed to his stellar showing.
The match started with Sinner looking to assert himself from the start, going up 4-2 in the first set. As the heat continued to climb, cramps set in for Medvedev at the start of the third set. Sinner tirelessly maintained his movement’s momentum, but the strain showed. He even got behind by a respite as it grew more difficult to walk. To control the physical aspect of his game, he took the choice to stand in most changeovers. He stuck with this decision the entire game.
To treat his discomfort, Sinner had invoked the trainer’s help while down 1-2 in the final set. It was a pretty desperate situation as cramping really affected his ability to move specifically on his way back. It wasn’t until the roof was closed that things got much better. That much friendlier environment enabled Sinner to regroup into the match and slowly but surely assert control over it.
“I got lucky with the heat rule, they closed the roof. I took my time, as the time passed, I felt better. I’m very happy with this performance.” – Jannik Sinner
Though limited physically, Sinner showed incredible mental toughness versus Spizzirri, who showed a great deal of fighting spirit over the course of the match. Whether it was the luck or the sheer will of each player, they made for a riveting matchup. Sinner’s relentless insistence on going through fear and self-doubt served him well. Spizzirri capitalized on any indication of crack, though ultimately, he’d be unable to outlast the Italian phenom.
As Sinner reached the last 16 – where he will play Andrey Rublev next – he was aware of the high emotional temperature around the match. An on-court farewell ceremony paid tribute to one of the tournament’s champions from 2014. In this heartbreakingly beautiful moment, they called out Sinner’s name.
From Sinner’s journey came an amazing experience of growth and learning. He literally embraces the brutal physicality of elite tennis. He understands that extreme heat is one of his Achilles’ heels. His time spent facing those conditions will be every bit as valuable for his future efforts on the court.
“I struggled physically a bit today,” – Jannik Sinner
Sinner’s win not only ensures his advancement in the contest, but it injects a dose of momentum into his desire to build on this further. He was challenged from all angles throughout the duration of his fight. While he’ll undoubtedly extend his limits in the later rounds, these lessons learned will inform his sensibilities.
On the heels of the Australian Open, players such as Stan Wawrinka have been taking a hard look at their games. Yesterday, Wawrinka opened up about his never back down mentality and willingness to face the best in the game.
“The level was great. I can see that I’m competitive, that I’m feeling good on the court, that I can win some good matches, play against the top players. It’s exactly what I’m looking for.” – Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka emphasized that despite recent successes, he remains focused on pushing his limits and understanding where he stands in terms of performance.
“Doesn’t change my goal for the year. It’s always going to be to push my limit. It’s not because I play well those three weeks that I’m going to win a lot of matches in the next few months, but at least I know where my level is and what I can still do, and I’m happy with that.” – Stan Wawrinka