Jannik Sinner's 'very difficult' opening assignment in Paris | ATP Tour

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The opening mission of the 'hardest' sinner in Paris: Big server or… big server!

Italian to face Shelton or Auger-Aliassime first at ATP Masters 1000

October 26, 2024

Jannik Sinner has yet to name his opening round opponents at next week's Rolex Paris Masters. But he already knows his comeback game will be tested early in his bid for a fourth ATP Masters 1000 crown in 2024.

The number 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has been drawn to face either Ben Shelton or Felix Auger-Aliassime in his Paris debut. Even though the World No. 23 Shelton or the soft delivery, on the right, of number 19 Auger-Aliassime will eventually face, Sinner knows he will need to adapt quickly in his first match indoors since lifting the Rotterdam trophy in February.

“[It is a] very difficult drawing. He finds it very difficult, especially here in these courts,” Sinner said at a pre-tournament press conference on Saturday in the French capital. “Large servers are very difficult. But we go every day. Then anything is possible. The drawing can sometimes open up, or you never know what's coming.

“I am trying to prepare in the best possible way for the first round match. It will be very difficult for Ben. It's very difficult, in any case. And against Felix, I did not succeed [in two attempts]. So it will be very difficult.”

Sinner won one game from three games at Paris-Bercy. He fell to Carlos Alcaraz, in the Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, the first event in 2021. After another opening round exit in 2022 (to Marc-Andrea Huesler), Sinner registered his first Rolex Paris Masters victory against Mackenzie McDonald last year. , but then withdrew before his third round meeting with Alex de Minaur.

“I'm looking forward to it,” said Sinner, who is 65-6 this season and already holds ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. “I am focused on myself, I hope that I can raise the level from the last two years when I came here, I have struggled here in this court. So let's see.”

With just two weeks to go until the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where Sinner will compete for the third time, the 23-year-old is looking to end his outstanding 2024 season. He will be hoping to improve on his 5-0 unbeaten record on hard courts this year at an event that has benefited many unpopular champions over the years.

“It's been a long season, but every time you get to the end everything happens,” said Sinner. Some players, they kiss each other; others, say fatigue.

“But I personally am happy to be back here. It's been a tournament where I haven't been able to find my best tennis so far. But let's see what I can do this year. I hope it will be good but also very difficult.”