What can be more satisfying for a player than winning their first title on a surface? For many, nothing comes close. Even the best players are expected to revel in such triumphs, savoring the moment of conquering new territory. However, the scenario was quite different for the newly crowned World No. 1, Jannik Sinner. Despite clinching his first grass-court title, Sinner’s post-match emotions were far from the elation one might expect.

The Italian tennis sensation clinched his first title on grass in the Halle Open. He faced Hubert Hurkacz in an enticing match and went on to win over him 7(10)-6(8), 7(7)-6(2). Despite winning the thriller match, Jannik Sinner seemed to be upset in the post-match conference over the loss that his girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya faced in Berlin.

Kalinskaya too, was playing in the finals against Jessica Pegula at the eco-trans Ladies Open. However, she could not continue her winning streak and lost the match, 7(7)-6, 4-6, 6(3)-7(7). This not just disappointed the Russian player, but also her boyfriend Jannik Sinner. “My girlfriend Anna played in Berlin today. She lost, with 6 match points. So I’m very sorry for her. She also had an amazing week,” Sinner said after the match. This defeat also shattered the dreams of the Russian star.

Talking on a podcast recently, Eugenie Bouchard reiterated Anna Kalinskaya’s dream to win on the same day as her boyfriend Sinner. “Kalinskaya had talked about at the beginning of the week. She said she hoped she and Sinner could do what Katie and Alex De Minaur did last week and they are both in the finals. If this happens, that will be amazing.” Earlier, power couple Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur had won titles on the same day. Meanwhile, Kalinskaya was all-praises for her opponent despite the defeat.

Speaking in the post-match conference after losing to Pegula, Anna Kalinskaya expressed her joy over the success of her American counterpart. “Jess, you’re such a fighter, it’s nice to see you back on tour,” Kalinskaya said on court. “Couldn’t wish for a better comeback. If we played like this against each other every time, I would be happy for both of us.” This is Pegula’s fifth career title and first since winning the Korea Open in 2023. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is currently eyeing Wimbledon.

‘I’m more confident..’ Jannik Sinner gears up for grass-court Grand Slam

Grass courts are known for their uncertainty. However, for Jannik Sinner, entering and conquering the finals in Halle was extremely crucial. Ahead of this win, the highest achievement that the Italian had so far was playing till the semi-finals at last year’s Wimbledon. However, he is now eyeing for something bigger at the prestigious tournament.

When asked about his preparedness for Wimbledon, the World No. 1 expressed confidence. “I’m just looking forward to it. Last year I made [the]semis, I played some good tennis. So let’s see what’s coming this year,” Sinner said. “I’m more confident for sure. And on this surface, obviously the grass it might be a bit different from here and Wimbledon. But I have one week now to prepare it so hopefully it’s going to be a good tournament.”

With Wimbledon just a week away, it will be interesting to see if Jannik Sinner can continue his trajectory on grass. Can Sinner once again prove why is he the world no.1? Only time will tell.