Table tennis and BBQs with friends: Jannik Sinner is healing his Roland Garros heartbreak

HALLE, GERMANY — A week can be a long time in tennis. Just ask Jannik Sinner.

Last Sunday, the world No. 1 suffered one of the toughest losses of his career after failing to convert three championship points against Carlos Alcaraz in the longest Roland Garros final of all-time.

But just seven days later, the Italian is rejuvenated and ready for the grass season—and it’s all thanks to his friends and family.

Sinner went straight from Paris to his hometown Sexten in South Tyrol to reunite with those who know him best.

“I relaxed a lot with my family, had a barbecue, played table tennis with my friends. Just normal stuff, nothing special,” Sinner explained on his arrival in Halle, Germany, ahead of Monday’s Terra Wortmann Open. “I always like going home when there’s a lot going on. I feel very safe with my family and friends, that’s why. They know what I’m like and what I used to be like. That’s why they know me very, very well and didn’t do much.”

It sounds idyllic, but the three-time Grand Slam champion admitted it’s been tough to forget the memory of Sunday’s final and the three match points that he wasn’t able to convert.

“I’ve had a few sleepless nights because of that,” he confessed. “But yes, I think it’s getting better every day. My family is behind me, all my friends and the circle of friends I have. That’s the most important thing for me. They’re doing well, so outside of tennis, that’s an even more important part of my life.”