Sports Mole previews Monday’s Wimbledon first-round match between Jannik Sinner and Yannick Hanfmann, including predictions, form and their head-to-head record.
Top of the men’s rankings, Jannik Sinner enters Wimbledon as world No. 1 for the first time at a Grand Slam when he takes on Yannick Hanfmann in Monday’s first-round match.
The Italian superstar has been the most consistent performer in men’s tennis in 2024, and he seeks to avoid an unexpected loss to his German opponent.
Match preview
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Despite missing out on this year’s Roland Garros, falling in a thrilling semi-final five-setter against eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner’s 2024 form has been second to none.
He starts his Wimbledon ambition as the No. 1 seed for the first time heading into a Slam, a deserved honour to reward his year-long consistency.
Apart from clinching the Australian Open title against Daniil Medvedev in a wildly exciting final Down Under, the Italian has reached the semi-finals in every tournament he has played this season — except the Masters 1000 event in Madrid where Sinner withdrew before facing Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals due to a hip issue — underlining his incredible reliability and focus.
The 22-year-old’s grass-court season has gone according to plan, with a first title on the surface in Halle seeing the top seed triumph in his first tournament since rising to the pinnacle of men’s tennis.
Having made the semis last year before falling to Novak Djokovic in straight sets, Sinner aims to start positively to continue his momentum as he braces himself for a potentially arduous Wimbledon run.
Standing in his path is Hanfmann, whose winless run at the Slams is expected to continue in the worst draw the German could have been handed at this year’s Championships.
The big-serving 32-year-old has failed to win at a major since last year’s French Open, where he was eliminated in the second round by Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets.
Since defeating Thiago Monteiro in five sets at Roland Garros, the German has had to make do with early exits at Wimbledon, the US Open and the opening two Slams this season.
Barring a stunning display or a Sinner collapse, Monday is not expected to be any different for the 32-year-old, whose only victory on grass this year came against Adam Walton in the first round in Halle a fortnight back.
Indeed, Hanfmann faces an uphill task against one of the favourites for this year’s Championships, where taking a set off the No. 1 seed will be seen as a success.
Head To Head
US Open (2023) – First round: Sinner 6-3 6-1 6-1
Monday’s first-round match at Wimbledon will be the second meeting between Sinner and Hanfmann on the ATP Tour, with the Italian inflicting one of the German’s early Slam defeats at last year’s US Open, winning 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.
Sinner will be wary of the 32-year-old’s heavy hitting, with the world No. 95 inclined to lean on his powerful serves and aggressive shot-making.
The Italian is one of the Tour’s finest returners, though, and should be unfazed by his opponent’s front-footed style.
Sinner is chasing a fifth title this year, having claimed four already in an incredible season that has seen him win 38 of 41 matches, significantly superior to his opponent’s 11 victories from 27.
We say: Sinner to win in three sets
Nothing screams straightforward more than Sinner’s first-round match against a ropey Hanfmann, whose losing Grand Slam run is unlikely to end against the in-form top seed, who could face Matteo Berrettini or Marton Fucsovics in the second round.