Superstitions and tennis go hand-in-hand! And who can tell this better than the tennis legend, Rafael Nadal? Many professional tennis players incorporate specific routines and rituals into their pre-match preparation and even during gameplay. For Nadal, there was a complete list of it, which included putting the water bottles in a specific pattern beside the side of his bench, placing his hair behind his ear, pulling his nose, and adjusting his shorts while bouncing the ball before the serve. Talking about his ‘superstitions’, Nadal said, “It’s a way of placing myself in a match, ordering my surroundings to match the order I seek in my head.” According to him, these things meant he was “focused.” This year, even Carlos Alcaraz spoke about his superstitious side, but does the current world number one, Jannik Sinner, have anything like these?
Talking about Alcaraz, earlier this season, there was a lot of curiosity surrounding his nasal strip. While addressing all those queries in Rotterdam, the Spaniard said, “It helps a lot to breathe normally, yeah, but once I started the tournament with that, I couldn’t take it off! Until I keep winning, I won’t take it off!” So, that’s how he reflected on his superstitious side. Following the footsteps of his tennis idol? Perhaps! But interestingly, even Jannik Sinner also has some pre-match rituals. What are those?
During a recent interview with Elena Hazinah, Sinner was asked if he had any superstitions that he usually does before going on the court. In reply to that question, the Italian said, “Normally, I always go to the bathroom. So if I don’t, that’s a big problem.” Is it the first time that he has been spotted talking about his superstitions, though?
Well, in June 2024, during an interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Jannik Sinner spoke about the other rituals that he usually does during his matches. “On the court, yes, I am, it’s part of my routine, it’s become a ritual. On the baseline, I step over with my right foot. When I go to serve, in the first serve I make 7 rebounds, in the second 5. It’s part of my routine, whether I change it or not, but let’s say I find my rhythm to play at my best, then the point.”
Different players have different sets of rituals to bring out the best results in their matches. But can these superstitions now help Sinner make a strong comeback in the Tour after staying out of action for almost three months due to the suspension after the doping incident? How optimistic is he with his chances at the Italian Open this year?
“Very low expectation” – Jannik Sinner shares his honest take ahead of the Italian Open
The world number one is all set to make his long-awaited return to the ATP Tour on his home soil. Jannik Sinner couldn’t have asked for a better stage to kick-start his comeback journey after what he had to go through in the last few months. Sinner was banned from competing between February 9 and May 4 due to the doping case. Although he won the AO earlier this year and has a win-loss record of 7-0, he has not competed at the Italian Open since 2023, having missed last year’s edition due to a hip injury. How optimistic is he about his chances in Rome?
“It’s a very, very low expectation tournament in general for me, it’s talking also results-wise. What’s missing is the complete feedback of where my level is. That’s going to come then slowly with the time, of playing, after the first round match, I’m going to have a good picture of myself — where I am at. For me personally, good news that the Grand Slams were not included,” said Jannik Sinner.
Serena Williams’ childhood coach, Rick Macci, issued a warning about the chances of the increased risk of sustaining an injury in his Italian Open comeback. Macci said, “The number one thing right now for the number one is injury. The jumping, pumping, slipping, and sliding on clay feels a different way. Because of a three-month vacation and now in live combat at a different location, the body will feel tighter for the Italian street fighter.” However, he doesn’t feel Jannik Sinner will look rusty at the Italian Open. According to Macci’s understanding, Sinner might have used the time to hone certain areas in his game. “Clay is his worst surface in my opinion. If he wins Rome after this agreed BAN zero doubt MENTALLY HE IS THE MAN,” Macci said in another tweet.
Recently, the Aussie tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, yet again took a jibe at Jannik Sinner on social media. Kyrgios has been one of his biggest critics in recent times. Can Sinner give a reply to all these critics with a strong comeback on the ATP Tour? Share your thoughts in the comment box.
The post “That’s a Big Problem,” Jannik Sinner Reveals His Superstitious Qualms as a Huge Comeback Awaits on Clay appeared first on EssentiallySports.