For the past two years, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have stood a class above the rest at the top of men’s tennis.
And so, once his rival and good friend succumbed to a wrist injury in April, world number one Sinner appeared almost entirely untouchable.
But Sinner would fall victim to one of the biggest shocks at a major in recent years at the French Open, exiting in the second round despite leading Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo by two sets and 5-1 in the third.
That collapse ended a 30-match winning streak for the Italian, as well as his bid to become the second-youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam – winning all four major titles – after Alcaraz achieved that in Australia in January.
Sinner said he did not believe the stifling Paris heat that day was to blame but, after appearing to physically shut down in that match at Roland Garros one month ago, the 24-year-old has been pictured wearing an ice vest while training in hot temperatures at Wimbledon.
Speaking on Saturday, two days before he starts his title defence at the All England Club against Miomir Kecmanovic, Sinner said results from a series of health tests he had after the French Open were “very good”, but added there would not be an instant solution to avoiding future problems.
“You cannot simulate 100% what you feel in a match because of tension [and] everything going around before and after match,” he said.
“We did some changes, not big changes. But I always believe in small details and small changes.
“We are happy at the moment with what we are doing. The result we’re not going to see here. It’s a long process. There’s no magic behind [it].”
Despite the manner of his loss in Paris, and not competing since, Sinner will begin as the overwhelming favourite to win Wimbledon again, having overpowered Alcaraz in four sets in the final last year.
While he undoubtedly has the ability, he has also proven he has the mentality to respond to his unexpected setback.
His childhood coach, Andreas Schonegger, told BBC Sport: “At the end of every lesson, first he didn’t want to stop, he wanted to continue.
“He tells me OK now, I wait for my Dad, but I continue one hour more, I want to play one more hour. [At] four years [old], that’s an incredible mind, incredible.
“It is not normal for children this age.”
