Jannik Sinner, the Italian sensation, has bowed out from the Paris Masters citing sheer exhaustion, right on the heels of his six-match winning streak.
In a surprising turn of events, Italian standout and tournament fourth seed Jannik Sinner has called it quits at the Paris Masters, succumbing to fatigue. The 22-year-old secured a win over America’s Mckenzie McDonald in a late-night thriller, concluding at the unforgiving hour of 2:37 AM local time on Thursday.
Sinner was lined up to face the energetic Australian Alex de Minaur in a third-round showdown later that very day.
On the flip side, top-ranked titan Novak Djokovic narrowly escaped an upset, eking out a victory over the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor with a score that flattered the nail-biting nature of the match: 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Djokovic’s performance seemed unusually strained, requiring a herculean effort to overcome a deficit and secure his place in the quarter-finals. He will go racket-to-racket with either Germany’s Daniel Altmaier or Danish powerhouse Holger Rune, with their match set to close out the evening.
Sinner’s victory in the earlier hours of Thursday, which saw him come from behind to triumph over McDonald with scores of 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-1, became a Pyrrhic one as the notion of returning to the court with barely a half-day’s rest was untenable.
“Regrettably, I must withdraw from today’s match at Bercy,” Sinner announced, expressing his decision. “The match wrapped near three AM, and I managed only a few hours of shut-eye thereafter. The turnaround time for recovery and preparation was less than ideal, to say the least.”
In light of his rigorous upcoming schedule, including the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga with the Italian squad, Sinner’s choice to prioritize his well-being is understandable.
However, this predicament shines a spotlight on an issue the sport’s governing bodies have yet to address effectively. Late-night finishes are becoming increasingly common, and it’s clear that something must give.
Sport News Center’s analyst Russell Fuller weighs in, criticizing the schedule that forced Sinner’s hand, and highlighting the ongoing debate on how to mitigate these grueling schedules without stepping on the toes of tournament organizers.
The Paris event is notorious for packing its schedule, cramming four singles matches into the day session and another two into the evening session, which often starts later than the 7:30 PM planned time.
Djokovic’s Pursuit Continues Amid Hiccups
The quest for a seventh Paris Masters title for Djokovic looked in jeopardy as he stumbled against the world’s 23rd, Griekspoor. The Serb began confidently with a 4-1 lead but his form dipped soon after, allowing Griekspoor to steal the set.
After summoning the doctor, Djokovic adjusted his tactics, focusing on baseline play to conserve energy. His experience shone through in a second-set tie-break, setting up a final set showdown.
Griekspoor, who was on the verge of a career-defining victory, could not capitalize on Djokovic’s struggles, watching the opportunity slip through his fingers.
Djokovic’s resilience was tested once more when an early break in the third set was quickly neutralized. However, the crowd’s unfavorable reaction seemed to fuel him, as he clinched eight straight points to claim the match.
With Sinner’s exit, De Minaur’s path now veers towards a clash with Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals after Rublev dispatched Botic van de Zandschulp.
Other notable advances include Greek phenom Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is set to join the Finals in Turin after a solid victory over Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Tsitsipas now prepares to battle Russian contender Karen Khachanov, while Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, following a straightforward win over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, gears up to take on Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Paris Masters Withdrawal
Why did Jannik Sinner withdraw from the Paris Masters?
Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Paris Masters due to fatigue, following a late-night match that ended at 2:37 AM. He had less than 12 hours to recover before his next match and chose to prioritize his health.
How did Novak Djokovic perform in the Paris Masters?
Novak Djokovic had a challenging match but ultimately won against Tallon Griekspoor with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. He had to come from behind and appeared to struggle throughout the game before securing his place in the quarter-finals.
What is the issue with late-night tennis matches?
Late-night matches are a growing concern in tennis as they can cause scheduling issues and health concerns for players. Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal has brought attention to this, with discussions on how to prevent such late finishes in future tournaments.
Who will Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic play next?
With Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal, Alex de Minaur will face Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals. Novak Djokovic, after his win, will play against either Daniel Altmaier or Holger Rune, depending on the outcome of their match.
Are any changes being considered to address late-night match finishes?
Both the ATP and WTA Tours are looking into measures to control the timing of matches to avoid excessively late finishes. This might involve reducing the number of matches in a session or adjusting start times.
More about Paris Masters Withdrawal
- Paris Masters Official
- ATP Tour Latest News
- Novak Djokovic Player Profile
- Jannik Sinner Player Updates
- Tennis Late Night Match Discussion
- Health in Tennis
- Tennis Match Scheduling
- ATP Finals Preview
- Davis Cup Team Profiles
5 comments
these late finishes are a joke! no one wants to play tennis at 3 AM, c’mon ATP get it sorted out.
not sure what’s going on with the late match starts but it’s got to stop, it’s not fair to the players or the fans staying up all night.
Djoko seems off his game lately…he pulled through but Griekspoor almost had him, hope he steps it up in the quarters!
Man, I was so pumped to see Sinner play De Minaur, totally bummed out he had to withdraw but health comes first right?
saw the match, Djokovic definitely wasn’t his usual self, calling for the doctor and all that, glad he made it through though.