Sinner, good start towards the Open. Illness and fear for his Anna

From the sub-zero chills on the beloved ski slopes at home to the 40 degrees of the other world, read Australia, Jannik Sinner it's always him. After his well-deserved holidays, the world number one has started again with what he does best, victory. A Melbourne, as an appetizer of the Open who will see him hunting for an encore, in the 'Opening Week' the Italian king of the racket beat in two sets Alexei Popyrin, host and world number 25.

The exhibition-preparation match ended 6-4, 7-6(2) for the Rosso di Sesto, who rewound the tape and repeated the usual script: careful study of the opponent and lethal acceleration in the final sets. If it also comes to a tie-break, as happened in the second set, the verdict is given by Jannik, who has won more than three decisive games out of four in the last year.

The first match of 2025 saw Jannik experiment with different tactical solutions under the blazing sun, in a match also characterized by strong wind. Not failing to try drop shots and volleys. Perhaps a few too many missed forehands, but the balance is positive, also because the opponent was not just anyone. In the second set, then, Jannik also recovered the break of disadvantage. And the service always worked. Another Slam 'warm-up' match on Friday, against Tsitsipas, at 9am Italian time (live on Discovery+).

"The first Slam of the season can be full of tension, but I know how much we have worked in these weeks. I am confident", commented the number one, who has now reached an absolute awareness. The others are chasing, or trying to do so. Carlos Alcaraz, the only one who seems to be able to really threaten ours (he is ahead 4-2 in Slams won, and has prevailed in the last three matches, except for the final of the Six Kings Slam), has changed racket, choosing a heavier one. Carlitos' attempt to fill the gap in power and weight of the ball that he is currently suffering from is clear.

The heat – the real bugbear of the 'Happy Slam' – forced Jannik's girlfriend, Anna Kalinskaya, to withdraw from the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide. The 26-year-old from Moscow fainted during the round of 16 against Belinda Bencic and had to ask the doctor to intervene to have her blood pressure measured. Moments of fear, then the Russian tennis player withdrew anyway.

A piece of news that also concerns those who oppose Sinner, posting repeated and unfiltered accusations against the Italian on the Clostebol case: Nick Kyrgios. The captain of Australia Lleyton Hewitt has decided to select him to face Sweden in Stockholm (January 31-February 1). Kyrgios returned last week in Brisbane, after wrist surgery, losing in three sets against the Frenchman Perricard.