Jannik Sinner withdrawal from the Paris Masters, following a late-night win, has prompted criticism of the tournament’s scheduling, with players and the tennis community expressing concerns about the late match timings.
The fourth seed from Italy, one of the most in-form players in the world, did not finish his second-round victory against Mackenzie McDonald until 2.37 a.m. on Thursday and was then set to face Alex de Minaur at 5 p.m. on the same day. Also read: Wimbledon’s Grand Vision: A New Stadium and 38 Courts
Casper Ruud, the world’s eighth-ranked player, took to social media to criticize the scheduling, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Bravo ATP tour way to help one of the best players in the world recover and be as ready as possible when he finished his previous match at 2:37 am this morning 14.5 hours to recover… What a joke.”
Sinner, who had won two championships in his past three events, including one in Vienna last Sunday, had withdrew approximately 90 minutes before the start of the match, citing tiredness.
“I am sorry to announce that I am withdrawing from today’s match in Bercy,” wrote Sinner on X. He said, “I finished the match when it was almost 3 in the morning and didn’t go to bed until a few hours later. I had less than 12 hours to rest and prepare for the next game. I have to make the right decision for my health and my body. The weeks ahead with the ATP Finals at home and the Davis Cup will be very important, now I focus on preparing for these important events. See you in Turin! Forza!”
This scheduling issue drew criticism, notably from Casper Ruud, who expressed dissatisfaction with the tournament’s decision to schedule the match so late. The late-night match and its impact on player schedules prompted concerns and raised questions about the event’s planning.
De Minaur advances to the quarter-finals, where he will face fifth seed Andrey Rublev, who beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-3. Also read: Who Is Daniil Medvedev Coach? Know All About Gilles Cervara
Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to 15 matches and advanced to his ninth consecutive Paris Masters quarter-final with a 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 victory against Tallon Griekspoor, overcoming a set down and a gastrointestinal complaint.
Grigor Dimitrov maintained his fine form by defeating Alexander Bublik 6-2, 6-2, but Roman Safiullin was unable to build on his upset of Carlos Alcaraz, falling to fellow Russian Karen Khachanov 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Also read: Breaking: Caroline Garcia Upsets Madison Keys at Zhuhai