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Altmaier on how ‘choosing items’ from rivals will gasoline his Sinner revenge bid
German performs prime seed Sinner on Wednesday in Vienna
October 21, 2025
Hu Chengwei/Getty Photos
Daniel Altmaier in motion towards Jannik Sinner earlier this month in Shanghai.
By Andy West
Eighteen days may have been lengthy sufficient for Daniel Altmaier to stew over his most up-to-date assembly with Jannik Sinner.
The German will on Wednesday search fast revenge towards the No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings after they meet within the first spherical on the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. It will likely be the pair’s second Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly in fast succession following Sinner’s 6-3, 6-3 triumph on 4 October on the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
“Actually, I’m very optimistic about it,” Altmaier informed ATPTour.com shortly after being drawn towards the top-seeded Sinner on the ATP 500. “I’m all the time actually wanting ahead to having revenge as quickly as potential. I’m that sort of man who actually loves the problem of revenge, so one thing like that all the time will get the very best out of me. I’m actually wanting ahead to that match.
“Clearly, taking part in towards these large guys comes with taking part in in entrance of huge crowds. Having loads of German supporters right here in Vienna too… To be sincere, I’m wanting ahead to it.”
Even at 27 years outdated, the World No. 51 Altmaier considers himself a participant in transition. His efforts so as to add selection to his recreation seem to have paid off in 2025, throughout which he has notched a single-season personal-best 18 tour-level victories, based on the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. He has excessive hopes of additional extending that file by upsetting Sinner for the sixth High 10 win of his profession on Wednesday afternoon.
“I feel I’ve completely different recreation types that I’m actually engaged on at present to grow to be a greater participant,” mentioned Altmaier. “One is an aggressive aspect, and the opposite is a bit of bit extra affected person. The psychological aspect is basically essential additionally. One side [with this match] is that we’re on the finish of the yr, so it’s mentally more difficult. I’m going to sit down down with my workforce and see which tactic is greatest to get into the match. Additionally because the match develops, we’re going to alter.”
Altmaier is aware of what it takes to defeat Sinner. At 2023 Roland Garros, he outlasted the Italian, then the World No. 9, throughout 5 units in a five-hour, 26-minute marathon. That win got here only a few months earlier than Sinner lifted his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto and kick-started a scintillating run of type that has barely ceased since.
“It was an important win, this one,” mentioned Altmaier of his 2023 second-round triumph towards Sinner in Paris. “[But since then] he undoubtedly turned a constant participant who has dominated the Tour with Carlos [Alcaraz], which is a truth. I feel you must respect that, and I actually like seeing what different guys do with their recreation to grow to be that constant. I’m somebody who actually appears to be like left and proper to see and choose the very best issues for me.”
Simply 4 spots shy of his career-high within the PIF ATP Rankings, Altmaier is looking for a late-season surge on the indoor hard-courts of Europe to cap a career-best yr that he nonetheless acknowledges has not all the time gone to plan.
“I developed quite a bit as a participant this yr, on the psychological aspect and the non-public aspect, however have been successful extra matches and have grow to be extra constant,” mentioned the German. “I additionally had my challenges all year long. Adjustments in my workforce, which had an enormous impact on me, however I feel I’m joyful to be on this place, near my greatest rating, and there’s solely, for the following three or 4 months, the chance to go up.
