“It’s never too early for champagne”: Jannik Sinner opens up during mock date at Australian Open

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner showed a more personal and relaxed side during an appearance on Pod Laver Arena, a segment of an Australian Open podcast in which he took part in a mock “date” with the host.

The two-time defending Australian Open champion enjoyed a straightforward start to his Melbourne campaign, spending just over an hour on court before his opponent, Hugo Gaston, was forced to retire due to injury. At the time of the retirement, the Italian was firmly in control, leading 6–2, 6–1.

As expected, Sinner delivered a dominant performance and will now have a couple of days off before returning to action. In the second round, he will face local wildcard James Duckworth on Thursday, January 22, on Rod Laver Arena, with a place in the Round of 32 at stake — a milestone he is aiming to reach for the fifth consecutive time in Melbourne.

While competing at the Australian Open, Sinner was also invited to the tournament’s Blue Zone, where he participated in a light-hearted podcast segment designed to reveal a more personal side of the 24-year-old star. The concept revolved around a simulated date, complete with casual conversation, champagne, and playful questions from the host.

“If a girl turned up like this in a tracksuit, would you care? I mean, you're in a tracksuit as well…,” the host asked at the start of the video.

“I mean, I’m also here in the same thing, but it also depends what time, right?” Sinner replied with a smile. “If you go in the afternoon to do something, it’s okay — tracksuit. Even for dinner…”

The host later asked whether it was “too early for champagne” as she opened a bottle to toast with the four-time Grand Slam champion.

“It’s never too early for champagne,” Sinner responded, laughing.

The Italian was also asked how he would feel if his date offered to pay the bill. “That’s not a good move from my side, I guess,” he said. “It depends how many times we still go on a date.”

Sinner appeared relaxed and amused throughout the exchange, offering a glimpse of a side he rarely shows in competitive settings. The segment highlighted his easygoing personality, something fans do not often get to see. It is worth recalling that the Italian — who previously dated Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya — is currently in a relationship with model Laila Hasanović.

From a sporting perspective, Sinner will return to the court in a few days to face James Duckworth (World No. 88), a player he has met three times before on tour, holding a narrow 2–1 lead in their head-to-head record. Their most recent encounter came in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Sofia Open.

This time around, however, the context could hardly be more different. Sinner arrives as one of the strongest title favourites in Melbourne, riding a 15-match winning streak at the Australian Open, during which he has dropped just five sets since beginning his title-winning run in 2024.

Overall, the second seed is currently on a 16-match winning streak, with his last defeat dating back to the Shanghai Masters, where he was beaten by Tallon Griekspoor. Since then, Sinner has gone on to win the Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals in consecutive fashion.

For now, Sinner does not have the chance to overtake Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the rankings. Defending his Australian Open title is essential to prevent the gap from widening, particularly if the Spaniard reaches the final or lifts the trophy in Melbourne.

However, once the Australian swing concludes, Sinner will enter a favourable stretch of the season. He will have three months in which he does not defend ranking points, with four Masters 1000 tournaments ahead — a scenario that could put the Italian in a strong position to challenge for the world No. 1 ranking once again.