Jannik Sinner hopes to get back on track at the Canadian Masters after being forced to pull out of the Olympic Games.
The reigning Australian Open Champion missed out on a chance of winning a medal in Paris after doctors advised him not to play. Sinner was recently diagnosed with tonsillitis after feeling unwell for some days. Despite his absence, Italy has won two medals with Lozenzo Musetti claiming a bronze in the men’s singles, as well as Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini making it through to the gold medal match on Sunday.
“It broke my heart not to be able to go to Paris, the Games were one of my main goals for the season.” Sinner said during the draw ceremony in Montreal.
“In the end though, looking at everything from a broader perspective, Musetti won a bronze, so an Italian is happy and I am happy for him.”
Sinner’s focus now switches to Montreal where he will be bidding to become the first man to win back-to-back Canadian Open titles since Rafael Nadal in 2019. Unlike other Masters 1000 events, it is the only tournament that alternates each year between two cities – Montreal and Toronto. This year’s draw has been hit with a series of high-profile withdrawals due to the Olympics with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz both pulling out.
However, the 22-year-old is taking nothing for granted. When he won the title 12 months ago, Sinner was yet to win a Grand Slam or reach the top of the PIF ATP rankings.
“It’s just a different number,” the world No.1 said.
“Me and my team, we try to make the process, our daily routine, to make everything in the best possible way and just try to be ready for every challenge that comes up.
“I’m very happy to come back here. It started off from last year semis of Wimbledon and then I came here for the first Masters event I won. I’ve been very consistent throughout one year and that’s at least what we will try to do in the next months also.”
In his section of the draw, Sinner could face unseeded Frances Tiafoe or Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. Then if the draw goes according to the seedings, he will take on Andrey Rublev followed by either Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
“I’m very happy to be back here. I didn’t play very well two years ago so hopefully I can play a little bit better. But let’ssee,” said Sinner who lost in the third round to Pablo Carreno Busta when he last played in Toronto.
“I feel like the court from here and Toronto, they’re very similar in one way, maybe here it’s flying a little bit more. But I’m just happy to be here, the atmosphere is amazing always.”
The Canadian Masters is one of two Masters 1000 events taking place before the US Open. The other is in Cincinnati.
