Three weeks after his breakthrough victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open, Sinner continued his winning streak by defeating Alex de Minaur in the final of the Rotterdam tournament.
The Italian extended his unbeaten start to the season to 12 matches, becoming the first player since Lleyton Hewitt to win a title immediately after winning a major. Hewitt achieved this feat by following up his 2001 US Open triumph with a victory in the Japan Open, where he defeated Michel Kratochvil in the final.
In the past, many first-time major winners failed to win a title in their next ATP Tour event. However, Sinner’s success puts him in the company of other notable players who have achieved this feat.
For example, Carlos Alcaraz, the most recent first-time Grand Slam winner, won the US Open in 2022 before losing in the first round of the Astana Open. Similarly, Medvedev, after winning the 2021 US Open, reached the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open before being eliminated by Grigor Dimitrov.
Dominic Thiem, who won his first major at the 2020 US Open, faced tough challenges in subsequent tournaments. He advanced to the quarterfinals of the French Open but was defeated by Diego Schwartzman in a five-set match. Marin Cilic, the winner of the 2014 US Open, also experienced a setback in the China Open, where he lost in the quarterfinals to Andy Murray.
Stan Wawrinka, who won the Australian Open in 2014, reached the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open before being eliminated by Kevin Anderson. Andy Murray, after his victory in the 2013 Wimbledon final, reached the semifinals of the Japan Open before being defeated by Milos Raonic.
Juan Martin del Potro, the winner of the 2009 US Open, was unable to replicate his success in the Japan Open, where he was defeated in the first round by Edouard Roger Vasselin. Novak Djokovic, after winning his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open, reached the second round of the Marseille Open before losing to Gilles Simon.
Rafael Nadal, who won his first major at the 2005 French Open, returned to action at the Halle Open and was defeated by Alexander Waske. Gaston Gaudio, the winner of the 2004 French Open, reached the final of the Swedish Open but was defeated by Mariano Puerta.
Finally, Roger Federer, after winning Wimbledon in 2003, reached the final of the Swiss Open in Gstaad but lost to Jiri Novak. Andy Roddick, the winner of the 2003 US Open, was eliminated in the third round of the Madrid Open by Nicolas Massu. Albert Costa, the winner of the 2002 French Open, was defeated in the first round of the Gastaad tournament by Paul Henri Mathieu. And Thomas Johansson, the winner of the 2002 Australian Open, lost to Greg Rusedski in the first round of the Marseille Open.
According to the Source tennis365.com