ATP Tour

Vukic on clash vs. Sinner at Wimbledon: 'This place brings out the best in me'

Twelve months ago, Aleksandar Vukic stood under the glare of Wimbledon's No. 1 Court, facing defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the second round.

Now, in a near repeat of that moment, the 29-year-old Australian prepares for another colossal challenge at the All England Club: World No. 1, Jannik Sinner. It’s the kind of draw few wish for, but for Vukic, it’s an opportunity to test himself and, perhaps, lean on his quietly effective grass-court pedigree to tilt the odds.

“It’s one of those matches that you will look back on when you’re done with your career,” Vukic told ATPTour.com at Wimbledon. “To play these guys on the biggest courts, it’s going to be good. I’m going to have to play very well and things will have to go my way.

“I’m happy I played Carlos here last year, I think that will help me. I’m going to have to do a lot of things well, serve and return especially, but it’s one of those where I think grass will help me. I think I have a better shot on grass than I did on hard.”

_{^{Carlos Alcaraz defeats Aleksandar Vukic in the second round at Wimbledon last year. Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images.}}

While Vukic trails Sinner 0-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, both meetings took place on hard courts back in 2021 and 2022. With the slick, less predictable surface of Wimbledon offering different dynamics, Vukic believes he can shake up expectations and chase his second Top 10 win.

He arrives in the second round after an impressive victory over former Wimbledon boys’ winner Chun-Hsin Tseng, during which he won 81 per cent (54/67) of points behind his booming first serve. Now reflecting on his positive 3-2 record in south-west London, Vukic highlighted his capabilities on the surface.

“It suits my backhand quite well, and my forehand is pretty versatile to adapt to different surfaces,” Vukic said. “Back home, I grew up on synthetic grass, which is quicker than here, but the grass seems to bring the best out of me.

“This place seems to bring a lot out of me, and hopefully I can continue my stay here as long as possible.”

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Sinner, chasing his maiden Wimbledon crown, enters the match with his own mix of determination and caution. After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final — where he let slip three consecutive championship points — and a second-round exit in Halle, the Italian is eager to reset.

Yet while Sinner breezed through countryman Luca Nardi in his opener, he was quick to address the threats that Vukic could cause.

“He has improved, he's a huge server and a very good forehand,” Sinner said of Vukic. “He has nothing to lose… This is also a factor where things are not easy for me, but in the other way, I [will] try to step up, try to play my game, and then we see how it goes. I hope for a good match.”

At 29 years of age, Vukic can reflect on a solid rise. In 2023, he reached his maiden tour-level final in Atlanta before reaching a career-high No. 48 in the PIF ATP Rankings. While he has struggled to maintain that form and consistency, Vukic remains entrenched inside the Top 100, eager to reignite his form.

Vukic understands that, with the topsy-turvy nature of the ATP Tour, momentum can shift with one swing of the racquet.

“It’s always an experience with the Tour, there’s a bit of ups and downs, but it’s so dependent on a few weeks that you have to keep going,” reflected the current World No. 93. “You have to use the momentum and stop when it’s not going your way. It only takes one or two matches and then ‘Oh, I’m back’. You look at all these results that are happening, and you just don’t know. You can’t overthink what’s happening.

“This year hasn’t been amazing but I’ve learned a lot and I definitely haven’t lost my confidence. I’m excited to push through this summer and see what happens.”

Despite the challenges of life on the road, the Sydney native is grounded and determined to seize opportunities like the one ahead of him against Sinner.

“Everyone’s level is very close. You really can’t drag things from previous weeks,” said Vukic. “It’s a little tricky being from Australia, we don’t get to go back home too often. So it’s also about adapting when things are not going your way, but also keeping an even mind through the ups and downs.”