Jannik Sinner has offered an injury update after struggling through a straight-sets victory over Andrey Rublev.
The Italian was seen hunched over clutching his stomach throughout the clash, in which he would still win comfortably, 6-4, 7-6 (7), 6-3.
But, with Novak Djokovic next up, he will want to be 100% if he is to topple the reigning Australian Open champion.
So, what has Sinner said about his fitness? We take a closer look…
Jannik Sinner issues injury update ahead of Novak Djokovic tie
As the commentator rightly said at the time, a pulled stomach muscle is not something that one can just soldier on through. Especially in tennis.
It can prove completely debilitating and affects every part of a player’s game.
Therefore, if he is to have suffered a strain, there will be little he can do, especially against Djokovic.
That being said, he did go on to comprehensively outplay Rublev following the supposed injury, before offering an update post-match.
He would speak, live on Eurosport: ‘I don’t know. It was a little bit of air in there. I don’t know exactly what it is. We have to check. Maybe it is nothing. But it went away with a little bit of time and in the third set I didn’t feel anything any more, so hopefully it’s going to be okay.’
Jannik Sinner can cause Novak Djokovic problems again
Throughout last season, there were only really a few men who consistently caused the world number one problems.
Naturally, Carlos Alcaraz has already endured some historic battles with the 36-year-old, and whilst he would win the Wimbledon final he still maintains a 2-3 record against the greatest of all time.
Meanwhile, Sinner enjoyed a stunning November in 2023, where he actually bested the Serbian twice in a matter of weeks.
First inducing a shock defeat in the Nitto ATP Finals group stage, he would later best him again at the Davis Cup, cementing his status as a top-level player ready to challenge for the elite honours.
Well, there are few bigger stages than a Grand Slam semi-final, and although Djokovic naturally will have the edge, there is little chance that the Italian’s fitness will falter like Taylor Fritz’s did. That was even with the 24-time Grand Slam winner breaking an unwanted record too.
Full of energy and capable of pulling off the spectacular, if Sinner is to shake off this stomach issue completely then we could be in for a true spectacle on Friday.
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