Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his final match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
(Reuters) -World number one Jannik Sinner's bid to win back-to-back Halle Open titles was ended on Thursday following a 3-6 6-3 6-4 defeat by Alexander Bublik in the last 16, the top seed's first defeat to a player outside the Top 20 since 2023.
Going into the contest Sinner held a 4-1 win-loss record against Kazakhstan's Bublik, including a recent victory at the French Open. However, in Halle, Bublik now holds a 2-0 advantage over his Italian rival having also beaten Sinner en route to winning the grasscourt event in 2023.
