Jannik Sinner has been in action at the Vienna Open this week, reaching the final where he played Alexander Zverev in a very entertaining clash.
Earlier this month, Sinner was forced out of the Shanghai Masters, suffering from severe cramps in his legs during a defeat to Tallon Griekspoor.
Sinner has endured a relatively long year, choosing to play in a host of events, and he’s managed to collect Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
With the curtain starting to come down on the year, Sinner is perhaps facing a very pivotal period and after the Vienna Open final, his next move has become crystal clear.
Jannik Sinner must now make big decision to focus on ATP Finals
The world number two knows that he’s unlikely to finish the year as the world number one, and now he must seriously consider withdrawing from the Paris Masters.
Sinner is a competitor, and although he will want to play, he’s proved in the past that he has no qualms about withdrawing from events if his physical condition dictates it.
During the match against Zverev, Sinner showcased some signs of fatigue and was limping quite heavily during the first set, which he conceded to the German.
The ATP Finals will be the only thing that matters to Sinner for the remainder of the year, with the defence of his title won last year likely to be at the forefront of his mind.
As a result, playing the Paris Masters looks like a needless thing to do, especially now he’s added the Vienna Open to his haul of titles.
Sinner needs to work towards Australian Open
Sinner has won the last two Australian Open tournaments, and with that in mind, he will be eyeing a hat-trick of successes.
The Italian player will also have his eyes firmly on reclaiming his number one spot at the top of the world rankings, with his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz proving a fierce one.
Sinner needs to listen to his body, and with his hamstring seemingly causing him some problems, there doesn’t feel any major urgency for him to play the Paris Masters.
All roads from here lead to the Australian Open, and being right for that should take far more precedence than the Paris Masters.
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