Halle 2024: Jannik Sinner's projected path to the final | Terra Wortmann Open
Jannik Sinner will open his grasscourt season at the Terra Wortmann Open, being held at the iconic Gerry Weber Stadion in Halle. Once a Roger Federer bastion, the venue has crowned a new champion every year since 2021.
Crowding the field at this year’s tournament are defending champion Alexander Bublik and in-form players Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev. As the new World No. 1, Sinner will be the top seed.
With plenty of exciting match-ups lined up for the Italian, who will be vying for his first grasscourt title, here’s a look at his path to the Halle final:
Jannik Sinner's 1st round opponent - Tallon Griekspoor
Sinner will open his Halle campaign with a tricky first-round encounter against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
The Dutch player has been in good form of late. He comes into the tournament fresh off a semifinal run on the grass courts of his home tournament at 's-Hertogenbosch and could certainly ask a few questions of the top seed.
Sinner leads their head-to-head with a comfortable 4-0 margin. Their last meeting, however, was a tough three-sets battle at Indian Wells earlier this year.
Jannik Sinner's possible 2nd round opponent - Fabian Marozsan or Roman Safiullin
Sinner will take on the winner of the Fabian Marozsan-Roman Safiullin encounter in the second round.
Both players began their grasscourt seasons at the Stuttgart Open, but could not progress past the first round. Sinner leads the head-to-head against Safiullin 2-0, while he has never faced Marozsan on the tour before.
Jannik Sinner's possible QF opponent - Stefanos Tsitsipas or Jan-Lennard Struff
Sinner’s first real test is expected in the quarterfinals, with the top seed projected to run into Stefanos Tsitsipas at this stage. The duo have a longstanding on-court rivalry, with Sinner trailing 3-6 in the head-to-head.
The Italian could also face Jan-Lennard Struff, who also crowds the same section of the draw. The big-serving German’s game is tailor-made for grass and he could well take out Tsitsipas before the quarterfinals. Sinner has beaten him twice in as many meetings.
Jannik Sinner's possible SF opponent - Daniil Medvedev or Alexander Bublik
As the third seed at this year’s tournament, Daniil Medvedev looms in the semifinals for Sinner. The Russian, a former finalist at Halle, leads the Italian in their current head-to-head with a slender 6-5 margin.
Medvedev, however, will first need to find a way past defending champion Alexander Bublik. Seeded seventh at this year’s tournament, Bublik will be keen on repeating his splendid performance from last year when he beat the likes of Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev en route to the title.
The Kazakh did retire from his last match in Stuttgart and fitness will be a concern this year. Last year’s win at Halle (courtesy a retirement) notwithstanding, Bublik trails Sinner in their head-to-head 3-1.
Jannik Sinner's possible Halle final opponent - Alexander Zverev or Andrey Rublev
Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev anchor the bottom half of the draw and are likely to square off against Sinner for a spot in the final.
Rublev had made the final last year, missing out on the trophy after losing to Bublik. Zverev is also in solid form, having reached his second Grand Slam final at the recently concluded French Open.
Sinner leads Rublev in their head-to-head 5-2, but holds a poor 1-4 record against Zverev.