Jannik Sinner stormed into the Indian Wells final with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 win over Alexander Zverev, never surrendering his serve. The victory sent the Italian into his 10th ATP Masters 1000 final. Ahead of the title clash with Daniil Medvedev, Sinner also shared an update on his injury while addressing the toll the intense Californian desert heat has taken on players.

Speaking with Sky Sports, former world No. 4 Tim Henman asked Sinner about the hot conditions in Indian Wells and about his back. The Italian then shared details about a minor issue he felt earlier in the day.

“Yeah, physical part talking about the heat, it was good, I didn’t feel a lot of issues today,” Sinner said about the heat. “Even though today was not that physical, I thought it would be more physical, but it felt like when both serve really well, it’s tough to get into the rhythm, very short points.

“This morning I felt on one serve it bothered me a bit in the lower back, but look, we kind of solved it. Of course, it’s good that I have some time until tomorrow.”

Sinner has faced challenges in hot conditions before. 

At the Australian Open earlier this year, Sinner had a difficult third-round match. He battled through full-body cramps before finally securing his place in the Round of 16.

The Italian has often admitted that he still needs to improve his physical response in extreme heat. During one match at the Australian Open in January, he cramped while playing in temperatures close to 36°C.

Conditions in the California desert were also demanding this week. Temperatures climbed into the mid-30s during Saturday’s matches at Indian Wells.

Despite the heat, Sinner finally broke his semifinal barrier at the event. After losing semifinal matches in 2023 and 2024, the Italian reached the final for the first time and will now face Daniil Medvedev for the trophy. 

However, this is not the first time Jannik Sinner has dealt with heat-related struggles and injury concerns during matches in recent tournaments.

Jannik Sinner retired ill during the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner experienced a difficult moment last year during the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian star struggled from the very beginning of the final. On a very hot day, Sinner quickly fell behind in the match.

Alcaraz raced to a 5-0 lead in only 23 minutes. Sinner looked physically drained and uncomfortable on the court. During the first changeover, Sinner sat with ice placed on his head. He had already been broken twice and appeared to be battling the heat.

After losing two more games, Sinner called for the trainer. Officials came to check on him as the crowd watched the worrying moment. Following a short discussion, Sinner apologized to the umpire and tournament officials. He became emotional and told them he “felt really bad” for the fans who came to watch the final.

The Italian then shared a hug with Alcaraz. Before leaving, he walked to the middle of the court and raised his hands in apology to the crowd before returning to his seat and covering his head with a towel.

Alcaraz showed great sportsmanship in the moment. The Spaniard walked over to comfort his opponent, put an arm around him, and later wrote a message on the camera lens: “Sorry Jannik”.

Another difficult physical moment for Sinner came later in the season. During the Shanghai Masters, he faced Tallon Griekspoor in the third round. In extremely humid conditions, Sinner began suffering from cramps during the match. He was trailing 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when the issue became too serious to continue.

Eventually, the Italian had to retire from the match. The conditions and physical strain proved too much that day. Now, Sinner prepares for another big challenge. At the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, he is set to face Daniil Medvedev in the final.

With both stars playing strong tennis, the stage is ready for a thrilling battle. The big question remains: who will lift the trophy?