Jannik Sinner: A New Beginning

Back to back, again in Melbourne, where it all began. Jannik Sinner wants to continue to experience great sporting days, showing that 2024 is just a starting point. Last magical year opened with the first Grand Slam won at the Australian Open on January 28, 2024 after an incredible final against Medvedev. After beating the opponent who until that moment represented his nemesis, his career changed as if a curse had been broken. From there, the rise to world number 1, the victory records, the encore with the triumph at the US Open. And then again, the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup. And the level is rising in training towards the Grand Slam, which will raise the curtain on January 12: after the first contact with Cruz Hewitt, son (of art) of the former No. 1 Lleyton, the Italian trained with Stan Wawrinka, champion in Melbourne in 2014. The successes of the two are ten years apart, with also a large generational gap, the Swiss approaching 40 years old (he will be in March). “Thank you Stan, it’s always a pleasure to share the pitch with you,” Sinner coach Darren Cahill wrote on Instagram. For Sinner, an intense week begins now, between training, matches and meetings: the South Tyrolean will warm up again with Frances Tiafoe. As part of AO Opening Week, the series of collateral events and exhibition matches that precede the Grand Slam, Sinner defeated Alexei Popyrin (ATP No. 24) 6-4, 7-6 (2). Tomorrow at 04:30 (Italian time) the draw for the main draw will take place, in the presence of the Italian and Aryna Sabalenka – reigning champions of the tournament. Sinner, being world number 1, will only be able to meet the current number 2, that is to say Alexander Zverev, in the final. A crossover in the semifinals is possible with number 3, Carlos Alcaraz, or with number 4, Taylor Fritz. In the approach to Melbourne, Sinner is expected on Friday for the second exhibition and the level rises again because on the other side of the net there will be Stefanos Tsitsipas. Also present in Australia is Novak Djokovic. The Serb and the South Tyrolean in a video, which has gone viral, are the protagonists of a cold greeting. In the background, to remove a little serenity, the clostebol case and the wait for the CAS verdict: “I love those who are around me today, those who trust me above all as a person, even in the situation that I experienced last year and that I am still experiencing. I try to surround myself with people who have confidence in me, with whom I can feel confident: my aunt was one of them” underlined Sinner when responding to the doping affair which keeps him anxious , emphasizing that the loss of his aunt, one of the dearest people in the family, sadly marked the beautiful Christmas holidays. “A strange Christmas” defined Sinner, who now thinks of Melbourne. “It’s special to come back here and defend the title,” he said, smiling, just as he smiled as he passed through the tunnel of the greats who won the Australian Grand Slam. 2024 is named after Jannik and it all starts from here. The ATP ranking number 1 will officially make his debut in the 2025 season with two challenges during the Australian Open Opening Week. Friday January 10, it will be the turn of a second match, whose opponent is the Greek Tsitsipas, at 9:00 a.m. Italian time. Two exhibitions which do not accumulate ATP points. Between Sunday and Monday, the serious things will begin, with the start of the Australian Open and the start of Jannik. The Australian Opens are getting richer and richer. The prizes for winners and participants in the first Grand Slam of the season have indeed increased. The 2025 edition provides for a total prize pool of 58 million euros, or 11.6% more than in 2024. Qualification for the first round of the Australian tournament is worth 79,300 euros (12,000 more than in 2024); while for the winner, 2.1 million euros are planned. The trend of recent years in Happy Slam continues. Since 2016, the overall prize money for the last Grand Slam of the year has increased by 119%, and only 36% in the last five years. Monday, January 6, 1st men’s and women’s singles qualifying round (session at 12:00 a.m.) Tuesday, January 7, 1st men’s and women’s singles qualifying round (session at 12:00 a.m.) Wednesday, January 8, 2nd men’s and women’s singles qualifying round (session at 12:00 a.m.) Thursday, January 9, 3rd round men’s and women’s singles qualifications (session at 00:00) Friday January 10 Rest Saturday January 11 Rest Sunday January 12 1st single round men’s and women’s (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.) Monday January 13, 1st round of men’s and women’s singles (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.) Tuesday, January 14, 1st round of men’s and women’s singles (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.) Wednesday, January 15, 2nd round men’s and women’s singles (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.) Thursday, January 16, 2nd round of men’s and women’s singles (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.) Friday, January 17, 3rd round of men’s and women’s singles (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.) Saturday, January 18, 3rd round of men’s and women’s singles (sessions at 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. ) Sunday January 19 Men’s and women’s singles eighths (sessions at 01:00 and 09:00) Monday, January 20 Men’s and women’s singles eighths (sessions at 01:00 and 09:00) Tuesday, January 21 Men’s and women’s singles quarters (sessions at 01:00 and 09:00) Wednesday, January 22 Men’s and women’s singles quarters (sessions at 01:00 and 09:00) at 9:30 a.m.) Thursday January 23 Women’s singles semi-finals (session at 9:30 a.m.) Friday January 24 Men’s singles semi-finals (not before 4:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.) Saturday January 25 Women’s singles final (at 9:30 a.m.) Sunday January 26 Men’s singles final (at 9:30 a.m.) Live broadcast: Eurosport 1 HD and Eurosport 2 HD. Live streaming: discovery+, Sky Go, NOW, DAZN.