Top-ranked Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner expressed confidence ahead of his Wimbledon title defense after participating in an exhibition match amid a heat wave in west London on Wednesday. The grass-court Grand Slam begins Monday, and Sinner’s 6-3, 6-3 victory over Britain’s Cam Norrie marked his first competitive outing in nearly a month, as he has not entered any tour-level events in the lead-up.
Sinner’s appearance at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic came less than a month after he experienced a physical collapse during the French Open, where he lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo despite holding a two-set lead and a 5-1 advantage in the third set. Sinner, who struggled with dizziness and relied on ice packs during the match, said he underwent medical testing afterward to determine the cause. “We came to a conclusion which is very good,” he told reporters, without providing further specifics.
The exhibition took place under a “red warning” for extreme heat issued by the UK’s national weather service. Temperatures reached 91 degrees Fahrenheit in Fulham, where the event was held, with high humidity creating challenging conditions. Sinner noted the warm weather but said he felt physically well and did not require the ice packs he used during his recent health issues. Earlier in the day, he wore a cooling vest during practice at the All England Club.
The Met Office forecasted a potential two- to three-day stretch of maximum temperatures exceeding 98 degrees, possibly reaching as high as 100 to 104 degrees in some areas. Accompanying high humidity and warm nighttime temperatures were expected to increase discomfort and health risks. In response to the heat, the All England Club announced that ballboys and ball girls were not assigned to Wednesday’s matches at the Wimbledon qualifying tournament; instead, their duties were managed by the club’s adult Court Services team. Additionally, a temporary power outage at the Roehampton qualifying venue disrupted the electronic line-calling system, with heat considered a probable factor.
Sinner, who claimed his first Wimbledon title last year by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final, will face a different competitive landscape this year as Alcaraz is absent due to a wrist injury. Reflecting on his recent difficulties in Paris, Sinner attributed his physical struggles to multiple factors and emphasized the need for time to fully assess the situation.
With Wimbledon approaching and favorable weather predictions for the tournament’s opening day, Sinner appears determined to build on last year’s success as he prepares to navigate the challenges of defending his title under potentially intense conditions.