Jannik Sinner seeks 'consistent' summer form in Montreal after missing Olympic Games - ‘It broke my heart’
Published 05/08/2024 at 20:10 GMT+1
Jannik Sinner will be back in action this week at the ATP 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal. The world No. 1 missed the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis and said it "broke my heart" not to compete at the Games. Sinner will be the headline name in Montreal without Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, and says he will be "ready for every challenge" ahead.
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Video credit: SNTV
Jannik Sinner says he is feeling "better and stronger every day" as he gears up for a return to court at the Canadian Open, following the “heartbreak” of missing the Olympics.
World No. 1 Sinner missed out on making his Olympic debut due to tonsillitis.
Instead he watched on as fellow Italians Lorenzo Musetti won bronze and Sara Errani and Jasmine Paoloni won gold in the women’s doubles.
Speaking in Montreal before Errani and Paolini won gold, Sinner said: “It broke my heart not to be able to go to Paris, the Games were one of my main goals for the season.
“In the end though, looking at everything from a broader perspective, Musetti won a bronze, so an Italian is happy and I am happy for him.”
Sinner will be the top seed at the Canadian Open, where Olympic champion Novak Djokovic and silver medallist Carlos Alcaraz will be absent.
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The Italian opens against either Pedro Martinez or a qualifier in the first round.
It was at this tournament a year ago where Sinner’s run to world No. 1 started to ramp up with his first Masters 1000 title.
Reflecting on his preparations for the tournament this time around, he said: “Tonsillitis was tough, I took antibiotics for almost a week and didn't touch the racquet for days. When I left for Canada, I wasn't in perfect condition, now I feel much better and stronger every day.
“I am happy to be here, where I won my first Masters 1000, I arrived early and with my team, we are preparing everything in the best way to defend the title and continue to be consistent, as we have been all year.”
Sinner was world No. 8 when he triumphed at the Canadian Open a year ago.
Now top of the rankings, he says not too much has changed for him.
“It’s just a different number," he added. "Me and my team, we try to make the process, our daily routine, to make everything in the best possible way and just try to be ready for every challenge that comes up.
“I’m very happy to come back here. It started off from last year semis of Wimbledon and then I came here for the first Masters event I won. I’ve been very consistent throughout one year and that’s at least what we will try to do in the next months also.”
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The ATP Canadian Open this summer switches to Montreal from Toronto, with the WTA event taking place in Toronto at the same time.
Two years ago in Montreal Sinner was beaten in the third round.
“I’m very happy to be back here,” he added.
“I didn’t play very well two years ago so hopefully I can play a little bit better. But let’s see. I feel like the court from here and Toronto, they’re very similar in one way, maybe here it’s flying a little bit more. But I’m just happy to be here, the atmosphere is amazing always.”
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discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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