Jannik Sinner returned to action with a bang yesterday, brushing aside Chris Eubanks to kickstart his Roland Garros campaign in style.
Having won his first Grand Slam title earlier this year, and added another two tournament triumphs to that success as well, the Italian is one of the most in-form players in the sport at the moment.
However, with injury rearing its ugly head, his chances of adding to his tally in Paris have been severely underrated, understandably so.
Many feared that his absence from playing might make him rusty and somewhat susceptible to an upset, but that break has clearly proven to be the right call.
That being said, we will patiently await a fresh update to learn how Sinner‘s body has reacted to a return to intense Grand Slam action.
Jannik Sinner provides fitness update after Roland Garros win
Speaking immediately after his win over the American, unsurprisingly interest turned to how he was feeling.
After all, having been forced to pull out of the Madrid Open due to injury, and subsequently missing the Rome Open too, it marked a tough few weeks for the Italian, who had the chance to star at his home Masters 1000 event cruelly ripped away.
However, he is certainly making up for lost time here in Paris, where he blew away Eubanks before speaking on-court immediately after.
Asked about his fitness, Sinner replied: ‘The hip is good, I’m very happy. I’m glad with my team and myself, we were working very hard to be on court as soon as possible.
‘Obviously without the team it is impossible. For sure the general shape is not 100% yet, we try to build every day. But this is a special tournament, thanks everyone, the support has been amazing.’
Jannik Sinner could go all the way at the French Open
If he is back to full fitness, or even somewhere near that level, the 22-year-old has every chance of going all the way at the French Open.
After all, before Sinner’s injury there were few who could stop him, having only been narrowly defeated by Stefanos Tsistipas in Monte Carlo and Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells, both of whom won those respective titles.
Other than that, and his retirement in Madrid, he has won every other match he has played in.
And, with his first Grand Slam title already ticked off, he clearly has the mindset needed to go all the way.
Given the narrative before this French Open surrounded how the favourites were all expected to be hamstrung, Sinner has instantly proven those claims wrong.
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