Jannik Sinner bounced from Qatar Open by Jakub Mensik

Jannik Sinner insists he isn’t involved about his begin to the season after an upset loss to Jakub Mensik in Doha.

The world No. 2 was attempting to emulate rival Carlos Alcaraz by reaching the semifinals of the Qatar Open however was knocked out 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 by the 20-year-old Mensik.

While the Czech performed a terrific match and is without doubt one of the new era’s brightest skills, Sinner made some sudden errors — notably off his forehand — and it was one other blow following his loss to Novak Djokovic within the Australian Open semi-finals.

Thursday evening marked the primary time Sinner, 24, had misplaced a accomplished match on a tough courtroom to a participant ranked outdoors the highest 10 since October 2023, whereas he had not didn’t make the ultimate at successive occasions because the summer season of 2024.

“He served really well, so it was difficult to return,” Sinner mentioned. “It’s been a tough break in the third, a couple of mistakes. It can happen, obviously, but at the same time, I’m a bit disappointed in how I handled these moments.

“Every participant goes by way of ups and downs. I’ve had two unbelievable years. Having a small down, it is nothing that is going to fret me. I do know that I can play just a little bit higher tennis.”

A yr in the past, Sinner was starting a three-month doping ban after reaching an settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, and he didn’t return till the Rome Masters in May.

Now, Sinner can put together for the Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami subsequent month, the place he’ll hope to shut the rating hole to Alcaraz, which could possibly be greater than 3,000 factors by the top of the week.