Jannik Sinner is gearing up to defend his title at the Cincinnati Open, facing Daniel Elahi Galan in his opening match. This marks Sinner’s return to tour-level competition following his impressive victory at Wimbledon, where he claimed his fourth Grand Slam title.
Having skipped the Canadian Open, Sinner is eager to kick off the North American hard-court season. He previously secured his third ATP Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open last year by overcoming Frances Tiafoe in the final.
In preparation for his first match, Sinner has expressed his observations regarding the conditions at this year’s tournament. In a recent interview, he noted a peculiar change in the tennis balls, stating, “From my point of view, the tennis balls are getting smaller. The more you play, the smaller they get. That is very strange because usually they open up and get slower, but here they get actually faster.” Sinner also mentioned that the balls tend to bounce higher, which could influence gameplay, especially if wind conditions arise.
Reflecting on his past performances, Sinner’s journey through the 2024 Cincinnati Open has been impressive, as he has already clinched a series of victories. He opened with a straight-sets win against Alex Michelsen and advanced due to a walkover from Jordan Thompson. He later triumphed over his Canadian Open opponent Andrey Rublev to secure a spot in the semifinals, where he faced Alexander Zverev. Sinner put an end to Zverev’s winning streak against him, emerging victorious in a competitive three-set match before sealing the title against Tiafoe in the final.
With each match, Sinner is demonstrating resilience and adaptability, two traits that will serve him well as he navigates the challenges ahead on the court. His keen awareness of the conditions may provide him an edge as he continues his title defense. Fans are hopeful that his journey will be filled with success, reflecting his readiness to embrace any situation that unfolds during the tournament.