The world’s top men’s tennis player Jannik Sinner says he didn’t want to leave the court for a medical timeout during a Wimbledon loss to Daniil Medvedev.
Sinner was bundled out of the title race in a five-set loss to the Russian at the All England Club on Wednesday morning.
The Italian looked unwell and left the court during the third set, which he lost in a tiebreaker.
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He also won the fourth but ultimately faded to drop the match 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3 to the No.5 seed.
Sinner later revealed it wasn’t up to him to leave the court during the third set.
“This morning I already didn’t feel great. I had some problems and then with the fatigue. It was tough,” he told media.
Jannik Sinner speaks to media after losing to Daniil Medvedev. Getty
“Nothing to take away from Daniil. I think he played very smart, good tennis. That’s it.
“I went off the court. I actually didn’t want to go off. The physio told me it was better to take some time because he watched me and I didn’t seem in shape to play.
“I was struggling physically. It wasn’t an easy moment. I tried to fight with what I had today. That’s it.”
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Sinner didn’t expand much on what the illness was, other than to reveal he “didn’t vomit”.
Medvedev took advantage of his opponent’s ailment and ran Sinner around the court to score the victory.
Sinner said he felt better after his third-set recess but ultimately could not recover fully.
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts as he receives treatment from a trainer. AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali
“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling great. But I took some time because I was quite dizzy,” Sinner said.
“Off court I had the toughest time maybe. When I went back I tried my best.
“Obviously disappointed about the third set. I had a couple set points and couldn’t use them. Fourth set I raised my level a bit.
“In the fifth I had one poor service game which decided the match.”
Medvedev will now take on reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semis.