A spectator was escorted off the court by security personnel for approaching Jannik Sinner, the world No. 2 player, during the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. Following a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win against Stefanos Tsitsipas in his initial match on Wednesday, Sinner was approached by a young individual seemingly requesting his jacket post-game.
The fan engaged in a brief conversation with Sinner before security intervened and removed the individual. Meanwhile, as Sinner packed his belongings in the background, analysts Prakash Amritraj, Feliciano Lopez, and Laura Robson discussed his performance.
The spectator approached Sinner, shook his hand, and repeatedly pointed towards his jacket. Although the dialogue was not captured by microphones, the four-time Major winner seemed puzzled as the individual tapped on Sinner’s jacket and then gestured towards himself.
A security guard swiftly intervened, taking the individual away from Sinner so that the world No. 2 could leave the court. Sinner was staging a comeback after withdrawing from the recent Shanghai Masters due to the challenging hot and humid climate.
The 24-year-old, who was defending his title in Shanghai, was among several players who struggled with the extreme conditions. Suffering from severe cramps during the third set of his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor, the 2024 champion could barely continue.
Upon arriving in Riyadh to defend his title at the Six Kings Slam, Sinner stated, “The cramps in Shanghai? I think they were due to a mental factor. I talked with my team – from that perspective, I wasn’t at my best, but now everything is fine. The error was mine, the heat and humidity affected me. You learn from these experiences – cramps can occur, and I was not the only one to face them.”
Nevertheless, Sinner swiftly recovered at the Six Kings Slam, defeating Tsitsipas to secure a spot in the semi-finals, where he is set to face Novak Djokovic.
“Inevitably, we are getting to know each other better, having played numerous times already. With time, we enhance our skills and understand each other’s strategies a bit more, so I had some tactical preparation for the match,” mentioned the world No. 2 later on.
“Primarily, I aimed to maintain an aggressive stance, particularly during the return games. I felt my serving was strong in crucial moments. The court conditions here are quite intriguing as it offers a good bounce.”