In the semi-final the South Tyrolean won over the Spaniard and number 2 in the ranking 7-6(4) 6-1, a result that allows him to climb the rankings and reach fourth position, the best ever for an Italian with Panatta in 1976
Always have him play against Carlos Alcaraz. Always show us this Jannik Sinner who beats the number 2 in the world 7-6 (4) 6-1 and wins the final against Daniil Medvedev (his bête noire) but above all equals Adriano Panatta becoming number 4 in the world from Monday. No one after Adriano had ever managed to climb so high in the rankings since the computer ranking existed, in the Open Era. A historic day for the Italian number 1 who tomorrow against the Russian is looking for the second 500 title of his career. A match that seemed doomed from the start after seeing Sinner vomit on the pitch in the quarter against Dimitrov just 24 hours ago, and instead for Sinner having Alcaraz on the other side of the net has the same effect as a red cloth for a bull. This also breaks the balance in the precedents between the two, with the student of Vagnozzi and Cahill taking the lead 4-3, 2-1 to one this season. “Carlos’ true rival is Djokovic” the South Tyrolean had said with great humility on the eve of the match, but when the red tennis player is involved, the phenomenon born in 2003 suffers and has to give his best: the greats recognize each other.
THE MATCH
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Jannik gets off to a bad start immediately, contracted. The malaise against Grigor Dimitrov, which forced him to vomit on the pitch in the quarter-finals, seems to have left some waste. He takes a break at the start, and Alcaraz immediately imposes a frenetic pace. He runs everywhere, responds to any ball, puts pressure on Sinner who also risks a double break that would have killed the set in the bud. In the fourth game two forehand errors arrive for Alcaraz and Sinner is ahead on his rival’s serve for the first time. With a smash he wins two break points. Against Dimitrov he only made 3 out of 15. This time on the second occasion he gets back to level: 2-2. The match heats up, the two pick up the pace and continue spectacular exchanges which however lead to Sinner making an error: with two forehand errors and one backhand he allows Alcaraz to take the lead again. But it’s not over, Sinner seems to be in control of the situation and attacks the Spaniard’s serve, breaking him again to make it 3-3. He consolidates not without risking the 4-3 and thanks to a first serve that assists him he manages to stay ahead until 5-4. He risks too much at 5-5 when he often has to rely on the second, but he still manages to get to 6-5. The first set is decided at the tie break, the eighth between the two: Alcaraz immediately goes down by a minibreak and Jannik extends 4-1. Sinner hits a great return and extends another minibreak by serving at 5-2. Bad forehand error by the Italian who gives up one of the minibreaks and goes 5-3. Alcaraz pushes and also recovers the second, 5-4. Forehand into the net by Alcaraz and set point for Sinner who takes home the first set with a crazy forehand return. We start again with a very nervous Alcaraz who has to come back from 0-30, a backhand error gives Sinner a triple break chance. He cancels the first two chances, but on the third Sinner takes the lead. Jannik gets sucked in at 30-30 when he has to seal the 2-0. With a serve coming out he has the ball to make it 2-0 but we go ahead. Serve and straight to go forward. Sinner misses the first shot from the left, fails to close and Alcaraz takes command of the game for the counterbreak ball. Stop volley to Alcaraz to get back to the advantage, but the first one doesn’t go in and Carlos is lurking for a second ball to make it 1-1. The Italian’s change along the line was spectacular as he also canceled the second break point and finally closed the 2-0 lead. Immediately afterwards he has a bad missed pass resulting from the long battle of arms and nerves in the second game which lasted over 10 minutes. He concedes three break points to Alcaraz, recovers to 30-40 and with a great first outside he takes the lead. With 5 consecutive points he closes for 3-1 and immediately afterwards he puts his foot down on the accelerator, again breaking serve from the number 2 in the world and extending to 5-1 to end his historic day 6-2, for him and for the team. ‘Italy.