Jannik Sinner’s title defence at the Halle Open came to an end after losing to Alexander Bublik in the second round.
Bublik defeated Sinner after coming back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, handing the world number one his worst defeat by ranking since 2023.
The Italian will now head into the Wimbledon championships, having played just two matches on grass since the French Open final.
Following his defeat, Sinner took to social media to congratulate Bublik and send a message to his fans ahead of his fourth main draw appearance at the All England Club.
Photo by CARMEN JASPERSEN/AFP via Getty Images
The day after his surprise defeat, Sinner said on Instagram: “Not every day goes your way, and that’s part of the game.
“Thanks to @atphalle_official and all my fans for the support. Congrats to @bublik.
“Now taking a few days off before @wimbledon – one week to reset and prepare. See you all soon,” said the three-time Grand Slam champion.
Bublik earned his second win over Sinner at the Halle Open, two years after beating him for the first time at the same tournament.
Jannik Sinner’s 2024 Wimbledon campaign
Sinner entered the 2024 Wimbledon championships as the number one seed for the first time in his career.
He defeated Yannick Hanfmann in the first round and earned a victory over compatriot Matteo Berrettini in his next match.
The 23-year-old then clinched two straight-set wins over Miomir Kecmanovic and Ben Shelton to advance to the last eight for the third consecutive year in a row.
His quarter-final opponent came in the form of Daniil Medvedev, who Sinner took to five sets, but ultimately it was the Russian who came out on top.