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John Isner makes claim about Jannik Sinner on grass courts which he admits is absolutely ‘crazy to say’

Image of Jannik Sinner celebrating his win over Luca Nardi at Wimbledon in 2025, inset of John Isner speaking to the media during the 2020 All-Amer...
Credit: Getty Images/HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP/Carmen Mandato
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Jannik Sinner has yet to put a foot wrong at Wimbledon as he marches into the third round at SW19.

Heading to London with a 1-1 record on grass in 2025, some questioned how competitive Sinner would be at Wimbledon.

Answering those questions immediately, Sinner dominated Luca Nardi 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 in his opening match.

Producing an even more convincing display in round two, Sinner defeated Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.

Jannik Sinner celebrates during his match with Aleksander Vukic at Wimbledon in 2025.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

If there were any doubts over whether Sinner could contend for the title before Wimbledon began, there certainly aren’t any now.

Reacting to the world number one’s latest victory, John Isner has made a bold claim about Sinner’s level on grass.

John Isner claims grass is Jannik Sinner’s best surface, ‘it’s crazy to say’

During the latest episode of ‘Something Major’, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Isner shared his thoughts on what happened to Sinner before the tournament.

“In [Jannik] Sinner’s case, he ran into a red hot [Alexander] Bublik [before the tournament], who served incredibly well and his shot making, and he was just swinging free,” he said.

“So I think for Sinner, that was no pause for concern at all.”

Losing to Alexander Bublik in the second round of the Halle Open, Sinner bounced back at SW19, reminding everyone just how competitive he can be on the grass.

“I still contend, having played Sinner at Wimbledon three years ago, that grass is his best surface,” said Isner.

Jannik Sinner celebrates during his first-round win at Wimbledon in 2025
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images

“I know his results don’t say that. But in my mind, grass is his best surface. It’s a crazy thing to say, because the results do not back it up.

“But that is just what I think, having played him, and this was three years ago, Sinner, not the Sinner he is right now.”

With their head-to-head tied at one apiece, Sinner and Isner faced off one final time in the third round of Wimbledon in 2022.

In straight sets, Sinner got the better of Isner 6-4, 7-6, 6-3, booking his place in the last 16.

Isner was well beaten on that occasion but left with a piece of history, serving a record-breaking 13,729th ace during the first set.

Sinner went on to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2022, then a career-best result at the All England Club.

He’s enjoyed plenty of success on the surface, but how do his results on the grass compare to those on clay and hard?

Is grass really Jannik Sinner’s best surface?

Isner admitted the results don’t back up his claim that grass is Sinner’s best surface, but what do the stats actually say?

His win percentage on grass is lower than it is on hard or clay courts, as he currently sits below 70%.

Sinner’s Grand Slam results also indicate that grass is his weakest surface, as Wimbledon is the only major tournament where he hasn’t qualified for the final.

Grand Slam Best resultWin/Loss recordWin %
Australian OpenWinner – 2024, 202522-485%
French OpenFinalist – 202522-679%
WimbledonSemi-finalist – 202313-476%
US OpenWinner – 202417-577%
Jannik Sinner’s record at Grand Slam tournaments

He has, however, won as many titles on grass (1) as he has on clay (1), an impressive feat given the limited number of grass-court tournaments on the ATP calendar.

Overall, as Isner suggested, it’s fair to say that on paper, the results show grass to be Sinner’s weakest surface, although as we all know, tennis isn’t played on paper.

The intangibles of Sinner’s game have convinced many people, including Isner, that he can compete for the title at Wimbledon in 2025.

Of the four title favorites, Sinner has dropped the fewest games through two matches, as he made light work of both Nardi and Vukic.

PlayerPlayers beatenSets droppedGames dropped
Jannik SinnerLuca Nardi, Aleksandar Vukic012
Novak DjokovicAlexandre Muller, Dan Evans117
Carlos AlcarazFabio Fognini, Oliver Tarvet233
Taylor FritzGiovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Gabriel Diallo452
Games dropped by title favorites at Wimbledon in 2025

If he can carry that form through the rest of the tournament, there’s truly no limit to what Sinner can achieve at Wimbledon in 2025.

He won’t want to get too far ahead of himself, however, and will first focus on his third-round match.

Sinner will play Spain’s Pedro Martinez for a place in the last 16 on Saturday, July 5.