Jannik Sinner, a professional tennis player, has decided to withdraw from the Paris Masters due to health concerns. This decision comes after his second-round match, which concluded in the early hours of Thursday morning. Sinner’s intense game against Mackenzie McDonald commenced past midnight and concluded precisely at 2:37 a.m. Unfortunately, the timing of his next match against Alex de Minaur, which was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, allowed him a mere 12-hour rest period.
Sinner’s decision to withdraw stems from his desire to prioritize his well-being and preparation for the upcoming ATP Finals held in Turin. As he has already secured his spot in this prestigious tournament, it makes sense for him to focus on his health and ensure he is adequately prepared for these important events. Consequently, de Minaur will progress to the quarterfinals as a result of Sinner’s withdrawal.
This incident has sparked criticism towards the ATP, particularly regarding their scheduling and the insufficient recovery time allotted to players between matches. Casper Ruud, another tennis player, expressed his frustration with this issue via social media. It is worth noting that late finishes like this are not unusual in other tournaments such as the US Open and Australian Open. However, despite these criticisms, the ATP currently has no intentions of modifying their scheduling practices.