LONDON — Jannik Sinner, the newly crowned Wimbledon champion, has emotionally revealed the mental struggles he endured during a turbulent 2025 season, despite securing his maiden Grand Slam title on the hallowed grass courts of the All England Club. In a candid post-match press conference, the 23-year-old Italian opened up about the pressures, self-doubt, and emotional toll that nearly derailed his historic run.
The Weight of Expectations
Sinner, who became the first Italian man to win Wimbledon since the Open Era began, admitted that the burden of expectation weighed heavily on him throughout the season. "After winning the Australian Open earlier this year, I felt like everyone expected me to dominate every tournament," he confessed. "But tennis doesn’t work like that. The pressure was suffocating at times."
The world No. 2 described a series of setbacks that compounded his mental fatigue:
- A shocking second-round exit at the French Open
- A dip in form during the grass-court warm-up tournaments
- Persistent doubts about his ability to adapt his game to grass
A Breaking Point Before Wimbledon
Sinner revealed that he nearly withdrew from Wimbledon after suffering what he called "a complete mental and physical breakdown" following a practice session just days before the tournament. "I called my team at 2 a.m. and told them I couldn’t do this anymore," he shared. "The fear of failure was paralyzing me."
His coach, Darren Cahill, and mental performance specialist, Umberto Ferrara, played pivotal roles in helping him regain his focus. Sinner credited their unconventional approach: "They didn’t talk about tennis for three days. We just walked around London, visited museums, and remembered why I love this sport."
The Turning Point
The breakthrough came during his quarterfinal match against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Down two sets to one, Sinner said he experienced an epiphany: "I stopped caring about the result and just played each point like it was my last. That’s when everything changed."
The Emotional Aftermath
When asked about the moment he clinched the title with a stunning backhand winner against Daniil Medvedev, Sinner’s voice cracked with emotion: "All the pain, the doubts, the sleepless nights—it all came rushing out. I couldn’t hold back the tears."
The champion also addressed the darker side of his mental health journey, revealing he had considered taking an extended break from tennis: "There were weeks where getting out of bed felt impossible. Winning doesn’t make you immune to depression or anxiety."
A Message to Others
Sinner concluded with a powerful message to young athletes facing similar struggles: "Your mental health is more important than any trophy. Don’t be afraid to ask for help like I did. It saved my career—and maybe my life."
The tennis world has rallied behind Sinner, with rivals Novak Djokovic and Iga Świątek praising his vulnerability. The WTA and ATP have announced plans to expand mental health resources for players in light of his revelations.
As Sinner prepares for the North American hardcourt swing, he says he’s approaching the game with renewed perspective: "Now I know the scoreboard doesn’t define me. Win or lose, I’m still Jannik—and that’s enough."