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Jannik Sinner, the newly crowned world No. 1 in tennis, has arrived in Halle, Germany, to kick off his short but crucial grass court season. The pinnacle of this journey will be the Wimbledon tournament, scheduled from July 1-14, marking the third Grand Slam of the year.

Sinner's First Challenge: Tallon Griekspoor

Sinner, at just 22 years old, will debut his top-ranking status against the formidable Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, currently ranked 23rd. Griekspoor, a dangerous opponent on grass, recently reached the semifinals in Hertogenbosch, although he fell to Sebastian Korda. Historically, Sinner has a commanding 4-0 lead over Griekspoor, including two victories this season in Rotterdam and Miami.

A Rocky Path to the Final

Sinner's journey in Halle is fraught with potential pitfalls. He might face the likes of Marozsan, Safiullin in the early rounds, with Tsitsipas potentially awaiting in the quarterfinals, and Medvedev in the semifinals. On the other side of the draw, Zverev, Rublev, Hurkacz, and Auger stand as formidable seeds.

Sinner's Thoughts on the Grass Season

"It will be very challenging. Griekspoor is a good player on grass, with a strong serve and excellent volleying skills. It will be a tough match, but I'm excited to start competing on grass. It's a good test for me to gauge my level on this surface," Sinner shared on the ATP website.

"On grass, I will only play here and at Wimbledon. It's different. The first day you must adjust to the movements on the surface, which is tricky, especially when facing players who have already competed on grass. They have that feel, but I'm happy to be back and hope to play some good tennis," added Jannik.

A Memorable Encounter with Federer

Reflecting on his time in Halle, Sinner fondly recalled a piece of advice from Roger Federer five years ago. At 17, Sinner participated in the tournament thanks to a wildcard and was deeply impacted by his interaction with Federer, facilitated by then-coach Severin Luthi.

"I remember Luthi stopping me in the hotel stairs and asking if I could warm up with Roger before his match. 'Of course!' I replied. It was a special feeling," reminisced Sinner. Federer went on to win his 10th and final Halle title that year.

"I didn't get the chance to play Roger in an official match, and that's something I'll always miss, but I remember those training sessions vividly. He gave me a valuable piece of mental advice: try to enjoy and keep working hard. That's all he said, and it was wonderful to share the court with him," explained the Italian.

Editor: Emiliia Morozova