Tennis: Jannik Sinner Withdraws from Paris Masters

Italian fourth seed, Jannik Sinner, has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Paris Masters due to fatigue. The intensity of his second-round match against American Mackenzie McDonald took a toll on him as it didn’t start until after midnight and finished at a staggering 02:37 local time on Thursday.

Scheduled to face Australian Alex de Minaur in the third round later that day, Sinner recognized that his health and body needed prioritization. In an announcement, he expressed his regret saying, “I am sorry to announce that I am withdrawing from today’s match in Bercy. I finished the match when it was almost three in the morning and didn’t go to bed until a few hours later. I had less than 12 hours to rest and prepare for the next game.”

The determined athlete battled back after losing a first-set tie-break against McDonald and managed to secure victory with a final score of 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-1 in Paris.

Fatigue Challenges Tennis Players’ Health

Unfortunately for players like Sinner who endure late-night matches lasting well into early morning hours, there is growing concern about their overall well-being both physically and mentally.

This trend has become far too common within professional tennis tournaments where matches often end at absurdly late times.

Poor Rest and Preparation Affects Performance

Sinner’s decision to withdraw was fueled by the lack of adequate rest and prep time for his next matches. The ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, are just ten days away followed by the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga with a promising Italian team.

While Sinner should not have had to choose between prioritizing his health and participating in these important tournaments, it is evident that late match finishes require immediate attention from tournament organizers and authorities.

Tennis Authorities Need to Address Late Finishes

The ATP and WTA Tour are now actively looking into ways to control this recent trend of ludicrously late match finishes. However, dictating changes to tournament owners and promoters can be challenging.

Some tournaments have tried reducing the number of matches on show courts as a solution. In Paris, they still attempt to include four singles matches during the 11am day session, squeezing two more into a night session that often starts later than its scheduled 19:30 start time.

In Summary

Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the Paris Masters due to fatigue highlights an ongoing issue within professional tennis regarding late-night match durations. Players face challenges when their health is compromised due to inadequate rest periods between games.