Jannik Sinner Opens Up About Cramping Concerns Before Australian Open Final
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Jannik Sinner was impressive again in the Australian Open semifinal against Ben Shelton, but there were concerns about his cramping in the match. The ATP world No. 1 addressed that issue afterward.
While Sinner's rise in the last 12 months has been incredible, he remains susceptible to physical issues. The Italian cramping during matches is not new, and his team works hard to manage that problem.
The 23-year-old is also prone to illness. That was shown in the fourth round against Holger Rune when he took a medical timeout because of being unwell. After a strange morning, he stepped onto the court feeling bad but still battled into the next round.
Sinner felt better in a comfortable quarterfinal win against Alex de Minaur. Another straight-set triumph followed in the semifinal against Shelton, although the American should have taken the opening set.
The only blemish for Sinner from that victory was his sudden leg cramps in the third set. It had not been an overly physical first two sets of the match, making the No. 1 seed's cramping a significant surprise.
Sinner spoke about the cramps in a post-match press conference. He admitted that events on and off the court were likely responsible for what happened and praised his team for helping him manage those issues.
"It’s never easy. I try to put a lot of work in the days off, trying to understand my body. I have a great team with a lot of experience, they guide me sometimes about whether I need to do a bit more or a bit less."
"There's a lot going on, on and off the court. I try to isolate myself a little, try to be myself on the court. Sometimes it's easier, other days I struggle a little bit more. I'm just happy to put myself in this position to play for a big trophy again, but anything can happen on Sunday."
Sinner's mention of "off the court" might be referring to his ongoing doping case. The two-time Grand Slam champion twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol at March's Indian Wells Open.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency initially cleared Sinner, but the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The appeal hearing will take place in April.
Although Sinner's results have remained impressive since the case was made public in August, he has admitted that it causes him anxiety. Such stress can lead to cramping, making it a plausible explanation.
However, it is impossible to know for sure that is the reason. Sinner may have other things happening in his personal life that fans are unaware of, and his privacy should be respected because of that possibility.
Hopefully, Sinner's cramping does not return against Zverev. That could ruin what promises to be an epic final between the players. The world No. 1 will have to overcome an opponent desperate to win his maiden Grand Slam title after coming close to glory several times.
