“We don’t defend, we go for it”: Jannik Sinner sets tone for Wimbledon title defence

Jannik Sinner reappeared in an interview while preparing for Wimbledon, in his post-Roland-Garros preparation phase. It is a particular moment for the Italian, who will look to regain confidence after the surprising defeat at the French Open.

His early exit at Roland-Garros against Juan Manuel Cerundolo altered both his schedule and the rhythm of his build-up to grass.

The world No. 1 has spent several weeks out of the public eye, focused on his preparation for SW19, where he will arrive as defending champion, although this time without the presence of his main rival Carlos Alcaraz. The absence of the Spaniard due to a wrist injury removes a key rival from the draw and reshapes the competitive reference points of the tournament.

In an interview with Vogue, the Italian addressed his preparation for the third major of the year — both mentally and physically. The world No. 1 used the post-Paris period to reset physically and mentally, combining a short break with an immediate return to structured training.

Physically, Sinner reports a stable condition after a heavy stretch of competition earlier in the season. The priority, according to him, has been rebuilding strength rather than managing injury concerns, following questions raised after Roland-Garros about his physical state.

Sinner’s response to Roland-Garros was immediate and pragmatic. He took a short break with family and friends before returning to court work, prioritising recovery before loading his training schedule. The transition to grass has been direct, without match preparation, increasing the emphasis on practice intensity rather than competitive rhythm.

“I took one week off and spent some time with my friends and family, which was really important for me,” the 24-year-old Italian said to Vogue. “And then after that, we went straight back to practice, because now there’s a big run coming up—Wimbledon, of course, but we also did a lot of work for the US swing that comes after.”

“We don’t have a lot of time to practice for that usually. I’m always trying to see the positives in situations, and the positive part of going out early of Roland-Garros—even though I would have of course liked to go deeper—is getting some extra time. We try to maximize every day, so there have been a lot of long practice sessions, and I’m very happy with the shape and mental state I’m in right now.”

The 4-time Grand Slam champion said that time off was necessary at this stage, especially after a demanding first half of the year. Despite the early exit at Roland-Garros, Sinner takes positives from having more time away from competition.

“We did a lot of work these past few weeks, so physically I’m in a very good place. I’ve played a lot over the last few months, so a good training block was very much needed for my body to get stronger again, and I’ve recovered well. But the most important thing for me is to be in a good spot mentally, and I’m very happy to be here in London. Hopefully I can compete in the best possible way.”

The lack of match play on grass remains a structural limitation in his preparation. Sinner acknowledged that the opening rounds at Wimbledon will serve as adaptation rather than confirmation of form, with early matches expected to be the most unstable phase of his tournament. “I approach it in the same way. I always say we don’t defend, we always try to go for it, and hopefully we can do that."

"I know it’s a long tournament. How I start is going to be very important. I haven’t played any matches on grass, so the first match—or the first few matches—are going to be difficult. But if I’m able to get through them, I know the confidence on grass can come back and the good feelings as well. At the moment, we’re just trying to get a good rhythm on grass, and then we’ll see how the tournament goes.”

The absence of Alcaraz changes the competitive landscape at the top of the draw, removing one of the most consistent reference points in recent Grand Slam cycles. Their rivalry has defined key stages of the last two seasons, with alternating victories shaping expectations around major titles.

Sinner addressed that absence directly, framing it in terms of the sport’s broader ecosystem rather than individual advantage. The statement reflects the extent to which both players have become central to the current men’s tour narrative. “I’ve said many times before, tennis needs Carlos. I wish him a speedy recovery and I know that he has a great team around him that will be supportive and help him on the way back.”

Sinner also highlighted the specificity of Wimbledon within the calendar, both in terms of surface and historical weight. The tournament’s environment, he suggested, creates a distinct competitive atmosphere compared to other Grand Slams.

“You really feel the history and prestige of playing here. Everything around the tournament feels different compared to other events and it’s the only big event we have on this surface. So it’s very nice to be back here and share this moment with my team. My family is not here yet—maybe they’ll come if I go far in the tournament, but we’ll see.”