TENNIS
Jannik Sinner struggling to serve against Carlos Alcaraz in 2024 French Open: is he injured?
After a strong start to the semifinal at Roland-Garros, an uncomfortable Sinner began stretching and clutching his hand between points.
Jannik Sinner stormed out of the traps in the 2024 French Open semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz, taking the first set 6-2 thanks to two breaks of serve. However, things soon unravelled for the Italian, who lost the second 3-6 and was visibly struggling with his serve in the third at Roland-Garros.
The number two seed was seen stretching and clutching his hand between points, seemingly finding it difficult to flick his wrist and impart any spin when serving.
He double faulted twice in game 5 of the third set - taking him to seven overall - and offered up several break points, which Alcaraz failed to capitalise on.
When can players call for a medical timeout in tennis?
However, Sinner opted not to ask for a medical timeout, which suggests cramp was the issue. Players are not allowed to call their trainer on for any form of “loss of conditioning,” which includes anything that isn’t an injury - cramp, tiredness, sore muscles, etc.
The 22-year-old did, however, receive a quick bit of treatment from his physio at the change of ends, which appeared to have an immediate effect as he broke Alcaraz’s serve in the very next game.
If looked as if the Spaniard may break straight back, but Sinner battled back to hold serve and take a 5-2 lead in the third set, putting him in the driving seat to progress to Sunday’s final.