Jannik Sinner Aims to Join Exclusive Club with Back-to-Back Wins at Terra Wortmann Open
According to a report by the ATP Tour, Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner is set to make history at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany, as he bids to become the first player to defend the German grass-court crown since 2015. The ATP 500 event, which takes place at the OWL Arena, has a rich history, with only two players managing to win consecutive titles in its 32-year history.
As noted by the ATP Tour, Sinner, currently ranked number one in the PIF ATP Rankings, will attempt to join an elite group of players who have successfully defended their title in Halle. The first player to achieve this feat was Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who won the title in 1997 and 1998. Kafelnikov’s impressive run in 1997 saw him knock out three home favourites in a row to reach the final, where he saved three championship points before edging Petr Korda in a hard-fought title match.
Kafelnikov’s dominance on the grass courts of Halle continued in 1998, when he dropped just two sets en route to defending his crown. The Russian player’s impressive record at the event saw him finish his career with a 30-6 record at the grass-court event, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. As highlighted by the ATP Tour, Kafelnikov, who spent six weeks of 1999 as number one in the PIF ATP Rankings, was the first of the four members of the ATP No. 1 Club (also Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, and Sinner) that have won in Halle.
Another player who has enjoyed immense success at the Terra Wortmann Open is Roger Federer, who has won a record 10 titles in Halle. As quoted by the ATP Tour, Federer reflected on his long-standing relationship with the tournament, saying, "With Halle, we go way back… I don’t know the first time I ever came here, maybe 22 years ago, and I played 18 years in those years. More than just a partnership, it’s also become a friendship over the years with the Weber family… So it’s been a wonderful time, obviously also [I had] a lot of success here."
Federer’s impressive record in Halle includes a streak of four consecutive titles from 2005 to 2006, which remains the longest title-winning streak in Halle history. As reported by the ATP Tour, the Swiss star has won the title a total of 10 times, including in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019, with four of his triumphs coming when he was competing as the world number one.
Sinner, who made his debut as world number one at the Terra Wortmann Open last year, is now aiming to join Kafelnikov and Federer as a successful defending champion. The 23-year-old has had an impressive 2025 season so far, with an 18-2 record, including a third major title run at January’s Australian Open. As noted by the ATP Tour, Sinner is also bidding to build further on his grass-court game after he notched a personal-best nine wins on the surface in 2024.
As the ATP Tour reports, Sinner’s task will not be easy, with several players in the draw aiming to claim a second Halle title. The 2023 champion Alexander Bublik is a potential second-round opponent for the Italian, while 2021 winner Ugo Humbert will also compete this week. Nevertheless, Sinner’s determination and impressive form make him a strong contender to join the exclusive club of players who have successfully defended their title at the Terra Wortmann Open.
In conclusion, Jannik Sinner’s bid to defend his title at the Terra Wortmann Open is set to be a thrilling one, with the Italian star aiming to join an elite group of players who have achieved back-to-back wins at the event. With his impressive form and determination, Sinner is certainly one to watch at the ATP 500 event in Halle.
