Jannik Sinner admits what he really 'needs' to do before Wimbledon now after losing to Alexander Bublik

Jannik Sinner’s Halle Open title defence came to an abrupt end after losing to Alexander Bublik in the second round.

Sinner won the first set against Bublik, but the world number 45 responded, taking the next two sets to earn a shocking upset against the Italian, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

It was the world number one’s second match of the grass season following his victory over Yannick Hanfmann in the first round.

The clash was also his second since the French Open final, where Alcaraz emerged victorious in five sets.

Bublik, who was the Halle Open champion two years ago, handed Sinner his worst defeat by ranking since 2023.

Following the match, the three-time Grand Slam champion reflected on the loss and said what he needs to do before Wimbledon.

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Jannik Sinner says what he ‘needs’ to do before Wimbledon

In reaction to his defeat, Sinner said: “After the loss in Paris, it wasn’t easy to come here and compete again.

“I’m relatively satisfied to have been able to play two matches on grass before Wimbledon.

“I need to rest a bit now,” concluded the 23-year-old, whose best finish at the All England Club came in 2023, when he reached the semi-finals.

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Sinner made it to the quarter-finals last year, before bowing out to Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller on Centre Court.

Alexander Bublik’s reaction after defeating Jannik Sinner in Halle

In his post-match interview, when asked how he was able to turn it around, Bublik said: “I don’t know. I kept serving. I tried to be clutch.

“I tried to get back whatever I could. I mean, he’s an unbelievable player. I was not thinking I could beat him.

“If I had a few chances and I executed them well, and I kept serving, I had for certain a better chance than at Roland Garros.

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“I stayed there. Tried to return as much as I could. Serve aces so the ball doesn’t come back. That worked really well.

“I know what I’m capable of. I know I can put a few returns back. It’s a very fast surface. He gave me a chance.

“I had an amazing forehand to break him in the 3rd set. Then I just kept serving. On grass, if you lose your serve, it’s quite tough, maybe. I’m not the guy who loses a lot of serves. I just kept serving and putting him in uncomfortable positions. It worked well.”

It was Bublik’s second win over Sinner, having already beaten him at the Halle Open in 2023 en route to the title.

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