World number one Jannik Sinner bounced back from his heartbreaking French Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz with a straight-sets victory at the Halle Open on Tuesday. The 23-year-old defeated Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-3 on grass, just over a week after enduring a gruelling five-hour, 29-minute loss at Roland Garros. Sinner secured a break in the final game of the opening set and again in the second to seal the win over the world No. 138.
The defending Halle champion will face 2023 titleholder Alexander Bublik in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Ahead of the Wimbledon tune-up tournament, Sinner admitted he had endured “a few sleepless nights” following his five-set loss in Paris.
Meanwhile, world number three Alexander Zverev, twice a finalist in Halle, begins his campaign against American Marcos Giron on Wednesday, while third seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2022 runner-up, meets Quentin Halys.
