Jannik Sinner is implementing stringent measures to manage the heat as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon crown, a challenge amplified by his recent struggles in hot conditions at the French Open. The world No. 1 experienced a dramatic collapse in Paris, losing 18 of 20 games after leading by two sets and 5-1 against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
Following the French Open incident, Sinner took a week off to mentally reset and then convened with his team to analyze the issue. This led to comprehensive cardiovascular, metabolic, and exhaustion-related tests at medical facilities in Turin and Milan. To mitigate heat effects during warm-ups in London, Sinner has been using an ice vest, a strategy also adopted by some football teams in warmer climates.
This is not the first instance of Sinner being affected by heat. He experienced severe cramps at the Australian Open in January, where a match was temporarily halted due to heat rules. Additionally, he retired from a match in Shanghai last autumn due to full-body cramps in humid conditions.
"We did some testing, we tried to understand what happened, we came to a conclusion which is very good," Sinner stated. "So we worked very much, we changed the work a little bit as well, trying to see how my body reacts in different conditions." He now believes the likelihood of a repeat of heat-related problems at major tournaments is "as low as possible," describing his current preparation as one of the best he has had before a Grand Slam.
With Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury and Novak Djokovic nearing the end of his career, Sinner is considered the favorite to retain his Wimbledon title. His journey to the top includes a background in skiing before transitioning to tennis in his early teens. He made the decision to move to a tennis center, leaving behind his hometown in the Dolomite mountains. Sinner has spoken about his parents allowing him to choose his path, opting for tennis because the sport, unlike skiing, allows for learning from mistakes.
He chose to compete on the ITF Futures circuit against more experienced players, enduring early challenges before securing his first ATP Tour win in 2019. By the end of that year, he was ranked world No. 78. The COVID-19 pandemic briefly stalled his rise, but he continued to improve, ending 2021 as world No. 9. His partnership with coaches Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi led to further physical and mental development, culminating in a Wimbledon semi-final appearance in 2023 and Grand Slam victories in Australia and New York in 2024.
In 2025, Sinner faced a temporary ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after testing positive for clostebol. The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted his explanation that the substance entered his system via a massage, a stance that led to an appeal by WADA. The ban was widely viewed as controversial due to its timing, which allowed Sinner to miss no Grand Slam tournaments.
Despite past challenges, Sinner is set to open the Wimbledon tournament as the defending champion against Miomir Kecmanovic. He faces pressure to perform, with the added challenge of potentially extreme weather conditions on court.