Jannik Sinner Aims for Wimbledon Glory
Jannik Sinner is setting his sights on claiming the Wimbledon title held by Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian star recently lost to the Spaniard in the final of the French Open, heightening the anticipation for their next encounter.
Exciting Collaborations in Tennis
Sinner, along with fellow athlete Emma Navarro, shares a remarkable journey in tennis. Both are exceptional players in their twenties who have made significant strides at Wimbledon and are eager to achieve even greater success, particularly in singles. In an interesting turn of events, they are teaming up for the mixed doubles event at the upcoming US Open, taking place from August 24.
They had their first face-to-face encounter just days ago when they met on Friday, leading to mutual excitement and surprise about their collaboration.
“It was very unexpected to be honest,”
Sinner remarked when discussing the partnership at the All England Club.
Mixed Doubles Tournament Details
This year’s mixed doubles tournament will be a standalone event held on August 19-20, ahead of the main tournament, in an effort to draw more prominent singles competitors, according to the United States Tennis Association. Sinner and Navarro’s participation is part of a broader grouping of intriguing duos, including Britain’s Emma Raducanu and Alcaraz, who will also partner up for the mixed event.
Generally, in doubles, familiarity between players tends to enhance performance, but Sinner and Navarro can find encouragement in the success stories of other unexpected pairings. For example, Heather Watson and Henri Kontinen won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2016 despite never having partnered before.
Preparing for the Challenge
“The tournament kind of wanted us to play together because certain teams were already set up,”
Sinner explained, expressing his contentment about partnering with Navarro. He humorously noted,
“I’ve told her not to get frustrated with my not-so-great volleys,”
implying a light-hearted approach to their new venture. The importance of preparation was not lost on Sinner, who wishes to meet Navarro again before they hit the court for their match.
Player Profiles and Rankings
Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion who has secured victories in his last two Australian Opens and the previous US Open, has yet to experience a doubles match in a Grand Slam setting. In contrast, Navarro, who reached both the Australian Open and Wimbledon quarter-finals and the US Open semi-finals last year, has competed in several doubles events without seeing a win at the US Open.
While Sinner currently holds a men’s doubles ranking of 589, Navarro is positioned at 505 on the WTA list. They both will be participating in mixed doubles alongside other significant players, including Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, making the event one to watch. Sinner expressed enthusiasm for the new format, anticipating that
“the best singles players playing doubles is always something fun to watch.”
Looking Ahead to Wimbledon
In other news, Sinner is confident that his recent decision to go separate ways with his physiotherapist Ulises Badio and trainer Marco Panichi leading into Wimbledon won’t hinder his performance. Both had been part of his team since September 2024, achieving impressive results, including winning the Australian Open and reaching the French Open final this year. Reflecting on his choice, Sinner stated,
“I feel ready to compete. I feel free.”
He reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, showcasing his potential on the grass courts.
