Fresh off winning his maiden Wimbledon title, Jannik Sinner is not just proud of lifting the trophy at the All England Club—he’s prouder of how he emotionally and mentally rebounded from his heartbreaking loss at Roland Garros just a few weeks ago.
During the post-match conference, the 22-year-old Italian opened up about the emotional weight of losing the French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz and how he drew fuel from that experience for his stunning Wimbledon run.
“This is the part I’m the proudest of, no?” Sinner said when asked about his ability to bounce back. “It really has not been easy. I always try to be honest with myself and had this self-talk… ‘What if? What if?’ I always try to accept it. Things can happen.”
For the uninitiated, Jannik Sinner lost that Paris final in a five-set battle. However, instead of dwelling on the defeat, the World No. 1 chose to pivot quickly toward what was ahead.
“I said after Roland Garros that it’s not the time to put myself down,” he further added. “Another Grand Slam is coming up, and I did great here.”
That’s not all; he credits intense practice sessions and a strong mental approach in the weeks following the loss for preparing him for Wimbledon. “I did a lot of intensity in every practice because I felt like I could play very good,” he said. “I believe if you lose a Grand Slam final that way, it’s much better like this than if someone kills you and you make two games.”
With that being said, there is no denying that Sinner’s resilience has been one of the defining traits of his rise. Already a Grand Slam champion and current World No. 1, the Italian’s ability to respond to setbacks with maturity beyond his years is setting him apart.