Former world number one Rennae Stubbs declared Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner the “overwhelming favourite” for the upcoming Australian Open title, which is set to begin on January 7, 2025.
According to a report from an English media outlet, the Australian tennis coach Stubbs, along with former German tennis player Andrea Petkovic, expressed their belief that Sinner, the defending champion, is their top contender for the title in Australia next month.
On The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Stubbs said, “Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite at the Australian Open.”
Petkovic added, “For me too. I think the Australian Open is made for him, in terms of surface and in terms of ball. I think he used to struggle there before he got incredibly physically fit and in shape, but now even the temperature doesn’t seem to affect him.”
The two former tennis professionals also commented on the harsh weather conditions often experienced at the Australian Open.
They referred to other players as “weak” and “pussies” in the context of handling extreme temperatures.
Stubbs, a former doubles world No. 1, expressed, “If it’s that (42C) hot, they just close the roof mate. These guys are pussies, okay. Let’s face it, these players are weak. When I woke up and we saw it was going to be 42 degrees, we were like, and for Americans, that’s like 110 degrees, we were like, ‘Oh my god.’”
Sinner had a remarkable season in 2024, clinching seven titles and finishing the year as the world No. 1 in men’s singles.
Additionally, he won his debut Australian Open title earlier this year, further cementing his status as a favourite heading into the 2025 tournament.
