Sinner Gives Honest Verdict on ‘Very Difficult Draw’ at Paris Masters

Introduction

Jannik Sinner faces a tough challenge at the 2024 Paris Masters, a tournament known for its competitive draw. The 23-year-old Italian enters the competition as the World No. 1 on the ATP Tour and is assured to end the year in this top spot. Despite being the top seed, he openly shared his thoughts on the difficult draw he received during the pre-tournament press conference.

Sinner’s Thoughts on the Draw

Sinner, like the other Top 8 seeds, received a first-round BYE. However, his path is immediately challenging as he faces the winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime in his opening round. Each player presents a unique challenge—Shelton’s raw talent and Auger-Aliassime’s hard-court prowess made this draw particularly tough for the Italian.

“Yeah, very tough draw. Very, very difficult draw, especially here on these courts,” Sinner commented. “Big servers are very tough. Yeah, it’s a very, very tough draw.”

Sinner further highlighted the specific challenges each opponent brings:

• Against Ben Shelton: Recognizing his talent, Sinner acknowledged that it would be a difficult match.
• Against Felix Auger-Aliassime: Sinner admitted his past difficulties with the Canadian, noting that he has yet to defeat him.

“It’s going to be very difficult against Ben,” he said. “And against Felix, I never won. So, you know, it’s going to be a very tough one.”

A Twist in the Draw

In an unexpected turn, Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew from the tournament, removing one potential hurdle for Sinner. The Italian had hinted that anything could happen, a sentiment that proved accurate with this change in the draw.

“But, you know, we go day by day. Then everything can happen. The draw can open up sometimes,” Sinner added, emphasizing his approach of taking it one match at a time.

Focusing on Improvement

Sinner’s past performances in Paris have been challenging:

• 2021: He was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in his opening match.
• 2022: Marc-Andrea Huesler ended his run early.
• 2023: Sinner won his first-round match against Mackenzie McDonald but had to withdraw before his second-round match.

Reflecting on these struggles, Sinner expressed a desire to raise his level of play this year.

“I’m focused about myself, and hopefully I can raise the level from the last two years I came here,” he shared.

Fitness Concerns

Sinner’s fitness remains a key concern, especially after a demanding run at the recent Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. As he heads into Paris, the Italian will be hoping to manage his physical form to avoid a repeat of last year’s issues.

Conclusion

With his honest and self-reflective approach, Sinner is ready to tackle the challenges ahead at the Paris Masters. His focus on day-by-day preparation and improvement will be crucial as he navigates a tough draw in pursuit of success at this year’s tournament.