Jannik Sinner honestly addresses Monte Carlo Masters hopes as he makes ‘practice week’ claim

Ewan West 08 Apr 2024 3:27 PM

Jannik Sinner during an interview

Jannik Sinner has played down his chances ahead of the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters by admitting he will use the week of the tournament as a “practice week.”

The world No 2 expressed that his expectations for the beginning of the clay-court season are “not that high”, while declaring he is confident he can be successful on the surface.

Sinner is looking to translate his stunning form on hard courts over the past six months onto clay, having won 22 of his 23 matches so far in 2024 and claimed three titles already this season.

The world No 2 has won 13 ATP titles in his career to date, with 12 of these coming on hard courts, while his only clay tournament victory was at the 2022 Croatia Open in Umag.

The 22-year-old Italian has had limited time to train on clay ahead of Monte Carlo, having secured the Miami Open title at the end of March.

Sinner has performed well at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in the past two years, having reached the semi-finals in 2023 and quarter-finals in 2022.

Speaking in his pre-tournament press conference, Sinner insisted he is not expecting too much from himself in Monte Carlo, while outlining his two major clay-court goals for the year.

“The expectations are not that high for this for this beginning of clay. The goal is to be ready for Roland Garros and then hopefully Olympics. This is, I guess for all all the players the goal, to try to be in top form there,” he explained.

“We will take this this week as a practice week, playing with matches hopefully, hopefully more than one match but you know, it’s it’s gonna be interesting to see. I’m just happy to be here. It’s a special tournament and hopefully I can perform in a good way.

All the glam and the press ✨

Everyone wants a piece of @janniksin #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/ZC2lFo4y9B

— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 5, 2024

“I said struggling because it’s not the surface where I feel that comfortable in general. I feel more comfortable on hard courts, which doesn’t mean that I that I’m not a good player on clay. I played my first Grand Slam quarter-finals on clay, at Roland-Garros, I made quarters in Rome.

“So let’s see. Talking about last year, was not my best season-long clay. Hopefully I can change it this year. But you know, I’m confident that I can be a good player also on clay. It takes time for sure.

“I used to practise a lot on clay when I was 14 to 20. But then after most of the tournaments, they were hardcourt tournaments. So you play a little bit less but you know, I’m very excited to be here. I think if you make the clay with a good friendship, it can help.”

The Australian Open champion also discussed his approach to handling pressure amid his blistering form.

“The mental side is the only thing you can control throughout the match or throughout your general life off court,” Sinner said.

“But you also have to understand what’s happening. It’s easy to say, but then when you are in a very tough situation it’s it’s not easy sometimes.

“I try to control my mind and my head in in a way which which is helping me on court. So this for sure helped me, playing point by point, taking day by day, there is pressure but it’s a good kind of pressure and I’m very happy to be in this position and living also a normal life.

“I mean when I when I go off court and when I go out of the gym and I go home I’m a normal person and that for me is the most important. There is the work and and also the passion which I chose to do but then it’s also their their normal life. We are all normal people.”

Sinner will face either Sebastian Korda or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his opening match in Monte Carlo.