Jannik Sinner reacts after achieving record previously held by Federer, Djokovic and two other icons

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Jannik Sinner is set to return to grass-court tennis this week at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in the Roland Garros final.

Moving on from that defeat won’t be easy. Sinner had three championship points against Carlos Alcaraz but couldn’t close out the match, eventually falling short in a memorable five-set battle.

The tennis calendar offers little time to reflect, though, and Sinner already finds himself back in action, with the tour quickly moving past what many are calling one of the greatest Grand Slam finals in recent memory.

There is a bit of consolation for the Italian, however. Speaking ahead of his opening match in Halle, Sinner reflected on a new milestone he’s matched – one that puts him alongside some of the sport’s all-time greats.

Sinner matches exclusive record held by tennis legends

Sinner was recently asked about his achievement of holding on to the No. 1 ranking after first reaching the top spot, a feat only Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors, Lleyton Hewitt and Novak Djokovic had accomplished before him.

“It is an honour for me to be part of such a group,” Sinner said. “On the other hand, it is above all that you write your own story – apart from these statistics.”

Jack Draper also spoke about the Roland Garros final, noting that the level of tennis left a strong impression across the entire ATP Tour.

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Sinner could bounce back quickly with Wimbledon looming

Sinner’s game is well-suited to grass, and he proved that by winning the Halle title a year ago. His 2023 Wimbledon campaign ended in disappointment. An illness during the tournament led to a quarter-final loss to Daniil Medvedev.

There’s a sense that, if healthy, Sinner could have pushed Alcaraz even further in a potential semifinal clash at SW19. His aggressive ball-striking and clean baseline play may be even more effective on grass than on clay.

With Sinner and Alcaraz again projected to be on opposite sides of the draw at Wimbledon, there’s a real possibility of another blockbuster showdown between the two, and another chance for Sinner to flip the script.