Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon build-up has taken a different route this year, and it has caught the attention of many tennis fans. Instead of moving straight from clay to grass, the world No. 1 spent time training on hard courts before heading to England. The decision surprised some observers, but Spanish journalist José Morón says there is a clear reason behind it. According to Morón, Sinner is following a preparation method that Novak Djokovic has used in the past to make the switch to Wimbledon smoother and less demanding on the body.
Why Jannik Sinner Chose Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon Preparation Method
Sinner's unusual schedule began shortly after his early exit at Roland Garros. Following the loss, he underwent medical examinations at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. The tests showed that he was fully healthy and ready to return to training.
After spending some time with his family, the Italian returned to the court in Monte Carlo. What stood out was that he trained on a hard court with Holger Rune instead of immediately moving to grass. His team explained that the plan was designed to reduce physical stress, improve movement gradually and avoid the sudden strain that comes with an instant switch from clay to grass. Morón believes this approach follows a path that Djokovic used successfully over the years.
Morón explained: “After seeing Sinner train on hard courts yesterday, many people wondered: Why is he training on hard courts and not on grass? This is a practice popularized by Djokovic: he has barely played any tournaments before Wimbledon, also training on hard courts. The reason is clear: when transitioning from clay to grass, the change in surface would be too abrupt. That is why some players choose to train on hard courts during the first days, in order to relearn footwork, sliding, and get used to the rhythm of the ball on a fast surface like grass. It is, in a way, an intermediate step so you don’t go from 0 to 100. This allows the body to adapt to a faster ball rhythm, with a different center of gravity compared to clay.”
What Jannik Sinner's Plan Means Before Wimbledon 2026
Sinner has now arrived in London and started the final phase of his Wimbledon preparations. Unlike previous years, he has decided not to play an ATP grass-court tournament before the Grand Slam. Instead, his only match practice will come at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic exhibition event at the Hurlingham Club from June 23 to 27. There, he is expected to face players including Cameron Norrie, Casper Ruud and Flavio Cobolli.
Opinions remain divided on whether the strategy will work. Some experts believe skipping official matches could leave him short of competitive rhythm. Others feel the extra rest could help him arrive fresher for Wimbledon. Either way, Sinner and his team appear convinced that this carefully planned route gives him the best chance of defending his title.
