Sinner, the unexpected decision has raised a sea of questions: here’s what lies behind such an unusual choice.
The Internazionali d’Italia, Roland Garros, the Paris Olympics. Jannik Sinner’s schedule was already so busy that we never expected such a thing. A decision, which came out of the blue, raised countless questions and was tinged, at first, with yellow. And one that has prompted many fans to wonder why Blue has even contemplated the possibility.
But let’s proceed slowly. Let’s start by saying that the San Candido native announced a few hours ago that he has added another, initially unplanned, stage to his season schedule. He will take part in a minor tournament, certainly less challenging and prestigious than the Masters 1000s and Slams on which he is now calibrated, but there is a very specific reason why he has decided to do so. And it is a reason to be found, precisely, in the calendar of events in which he has decided to participate in this, so far fortunate and exemplary, 2024. No mystery.
Sinner will be making a stop in Bastad, Sweden. And no, this is not an event to which he is “sentimentally” attached, as could be, perhaps, the one in Rotterdam. There is a definite logistical choice, indeed, behind the world No. 2’s decision to make his way to Northern Europe next July, when Roland Garros and even Wimbledon will be well and truly archived.
Sinner, no mystery: he did it for this reason
Bastad will be played July 15-21, in the transition period between the grass bracket and the final act of the season on concrete. The Swedish tournament is on red clay, which is why Sinner thought taking part was the right thing to do, ahead of the Olympic Games to be held at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
He could have chosen to stretch his legs on the crushed brick of Hamburg, or on that of Gstaad, but in the end he opted for Sweden. “I am looking forward to participating,” he said, announcing his decision, “it is a beautiful event. For me it is the first time and I hope to see you all there.”
Relative to the Olympics, on the other hand, the possibility of seeing him as the flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the big event seems to have completely disappeared. Coni has rightly stressed its desire to give the task to an athlete who has already won a medal, but this does not mean that Sinner cannot wave the tricolor at the closing of the Games. We will know more, however, in the coming weeks.
