Italy’s young tennis star Jannik Sinner has stated that he had no choice but to ‘accept’ not playing at the Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old is already regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category along with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
Sinner was one of the most high-profile players who missed the tennis event in the recently concluded Paris Olympics. The world number one, who would have been amongst the favourites to win a medal for his country, had to withdraw just days before the events because of fitness concerns. His absence, however, was filled by his fellow countryman, as Lorenzo Musetti won the bronze medal for Italy.
Sinner, while talking to the media ahead of the upcoming Cincinnati Open, spoked about how he was preparing for the mega-event while playing at the French Open. He also stated that he was left with no choice but to ‘accept’ his fate.
“I felt I was playing well in Paris this year, at Roland Garros,” he said. “Knowing that the Olympics were going to be played there and that I can play well on that court, I wanted to give myself the chance to win a medal. Sometimes you have to accept it. Of course it comes back to you now that you missed the event, but it's part of the sport. I have to be happy with what I have and not just look at the negatives.”
Sinner’s next assignment will be the ATP 1000 event in Cincinnati. This year, there will be a new champion as the defending champion, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, has decided to withdraw from the mega-event. Last year, the Italian tennis star did not have a good outing in the competition as he lost in the round of 32 to Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6.
10 - Jannik Sinner is the first player to reach the quarter-final at each of his first 10 ATP events of the season since Novak Djokovic in 2015 and at 22y 358d, the youngest to achieve the feat since Ivan Lendl in 1982. Outstanding. #OBN24 | @OBNmontreal @atptour @ATPMediaInfo
