Sinner changes heat training after French Open collapse

Sinner changes – Jannik Sinner says he’s adjusted his preparation after suffering heat-related issues during major matches, including a five-set loss at the French Open and severe cramping at the Australian Open. Ahead of Wimbledon, he said he has done “some testing” and plans

On a sweltering London afternoon, Jannik Sinner was asked the question that has hung over his season since Paris: what happens to his body when the heat rises?

The world No. 1 and defending Wimbledon champion didn’t dodge it. Speaking for the first time since his French Open exit, Sinner said he has been making changes aimed at how his body reacts in hot conditions—turning the problem into something he can train for, not just survive.

Sinner’s last competitive match came at the French Open, where he lost to then-world No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in five sets. He had been two sets and 5-1 up on a sweltering afternoon in Paris, only for a dramatic collapse that saw him drop the next six games and then 12 of the next 14.

In the aftermath. Sinner said he felt unwell before and during the match and played down how much heat was behind the defeat. But it wasn’t the first time high temperatures appeared to disrupt him. At the Australian Open in January, Sinner suffered from severe cramps during his third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri.

That match was played as temperatures approached 100 degrees in Melbourne. Sinner could barely serve and struggled to move. Under the Australian Open’s heat rules. the match was temporarily halted; when play resumed with him down a break in the third after the first two sets were split. he went on to win in four.

Later, in October’s Shanghai Masters, high temperatures and humidity brought full-body cramps that forced Sinner to retire against Tallon Griekspoor. He had to be helped off the court.

At an exhibition event in London at the Hurlingham Club, Sinner addressed those episodes directly. On Wednesday, he said he went for tests after the loss to Cerúndolo, trying to understand the root of what happened.

“We did some testing, we tried to understand what happened, we came to a conclusion which is very good. So we worked very much. we changed the work a little bit as well. trying to see how my body reacts in different conditions. ” Sinner said at a news conference after beating Cameron Norrie 6-3. 6-3 at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.

He added: “We’ve made some changes in the practice, we made some changes in all other things.” The day at the Hurlingham was also hot—temperatures reached around 95 degrees, and Sinner described it as another baking hot test of sorts.

Sinner said he can’t predict the future, but that he and his team are doing everything possible so the chances of a similar incident to those in Paris and Melbourne “are as low as possible.”

He also framed the heat as preparation rather than only risk. He said the boiling conditions were useful heading into Wimbledon, where the forecast is for much lower temperatures. On Wednesday, he said the conditions were even warmer than expected because there was “no wind at all.”

“That’s exactly what I need, a good preparation before starting the tournament,” Sinner said. “In future. we will always try to practice where the warmer conditions could be. because I feel like every tournament is getting warmer and warmer every year. so it’s going to be important. but we did a lot of work. and today was a good preparation.”.

Sinner called the lead-in “one of the best preparations I’ve had since a long time before a Grand Slam.” After his early exit at the French Open, he said he did not pick up a racket for a week. He described spending that break with family and friends as the most important part of the downtime.

“I spent some great time with family and friends and that for me was the most important because I don’t have much time to do that,” he said.

Between March and May, Sinner had played a near constant stretch, putting together a 30-match winning streak and winning five ATP Masters 1000 titles.

The London exhibition also served another purpose: getting a feel for his game on grass ahead of defending his Wimbledon title. Sinner said he “felt quite good” playing on the surface. while also saying “we need to improve a couple of things.” He noted again that it was very warm. but insisted. “At the same time. we need to improve a couple of things. It was very warm but physically I felt good.”.

Wimbledon is set to begin on Monday. Sinner will open proceedings on Centre Court, returning as the defending men’s singles champion.

Jannik Sinner Wimbledon heat training French Open Juan Manuel Cerundolo Australian Open Eliot Spizzirri Shanghai Masters Tallon Griekspoor cramps Cameron Norrie