Sinner had 'sleepless nights' after dramatic French Open final loss

Observer

17 hours ago

Munich: Italian Jannik Sinner said on Sunday he had experienced "a few sleepless nights" since his historic French Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner, 23, tasted defeat after five hours and 29 minutes in Roland Garros' longest ever final last weekend and wasted three match points, having been two sets up.
"I had already a few sleepless nights, but I think everyday it gets better," Sinner told reporters before starting his grass season in Halle, Germany next week.
"Tennis is important in my life but nevertheless family and friends more important.
"Nonetheless I think often about the match," the world number one added.
Sinner failed to add to his Australian and US Open titles in the already legendary decider with Spaniard Alcaraz in Paris.
He returned home to Trentino-South Tyrol after the gruelling encounter on clay.
"I was very relaxed with my family. We grilled a bit, played table tennis with my friends," Sinner said.
"Really normal things, nothing special. I like going home, when a lot is going on.
"I feel safe at home and with my friends," he added.
Sinner returned from a three-month doping suspension in mid-May and now turns his mind to defending the title in Germany.
"The ball can bounce a bit funny because of the grass, and you have to serve intelligently," Sinner said.
"But in general, it is a surface on which I took a step forward last year and we will see how it goes this year," he added.
Meanwhile, British number one Jack Draper believes the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be crucial if tennis is to regain the spotlight shone on it during the Federer-Nadal era.
Last weekend's epic Roland Garros final — won by the Spaniard, who came from two sets down to defend his title in a French Open record five-hour, 29-minute marathon — enraptured audiences, pushing viewing figures to new heights for broadcaster Warner Bros Discovery.
Draper, the second seed at Wimbledon warm-up Queen's in London this week and entering at a career-high world number four, acknowledges everyone in the game benefits when the sport's biggest names are playing at their captivating best.
"I think tennis is in a really good spot in a way that the depth of it, especially the top 100, is extremely strong," said Briton Draper,who has been drawn against American Jenson Brooksby in the Queen's first round.
"Everyone is so good (but) maybe five, 10 years ago, maybe the top 10or the top 20 was a bit more stacked.
"But having those two guys especially, who were being incredibly consistent showing that level of the game, in one of the biggest tournaments in the world, and dragging more attention to the sport,that only helps them, helps players like myself, helps the game in general to keep on moving in the right direction and keep developing. — Agencies