After some worries at Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner did what No. 1s do: Play better | Tennis.com

Jannik Sinner Steps Up At Wimbledon

"I attempted to elevate my game towards the conclusion of the match," the Italian stated following his victory over Yannick Hanfmann in four sets in the first round. "I am pleased with the improvement I made."

The commentator at Wimbledon was wondering what Jannik Sinner was more worried about during his match on Monday: facing his opponent, Yannick Hanfmann, or dealing with his own hip injury. They made sure to mention that they meant no disrespect to Hanfmann in asking this question.

The inquiry may have seemed impolite, but it was not unfair. The German player is tall and powerful, serving 12 aces and hitting 44 winners, managing to win a set against Sinner. However, he is also 32 years old, currently ranked 86th in the world, and this was his last Wimbledon tournament. Sinner's injured hip, which caused him to withdraw from Madrid and Rome, appeared to be the more dangerous and unpredictable opponent on this day.

It was discovered that Sinner, who was playing in his first major tournament as the top-ranked player in the world, faced a bit of resistance from his hip and from Hanfmann. In the early stages of the second set, the Italian slipped while attempting to reach for a shot on his forehand side, causing him to fall with his right leg spread out. He immediately grabbed his hip and briefly walked with a limp. However, it seemed that he may have just reacted out of habit or fear, as he did not appear to be significantly impacted by it afterwards. Hanfmann stepped up his game in the second set, but Sinner responded in kind and ultimately won the set 6-4.

"I feel good physically," Sinner commented. "The first round is always a bit tricky."