Sinner beats Paul in three sets and flies to the final of the international against Alcaraz

For half an hour the ten thousand spectators of the plant were petrified. Nobody, not even the players on the pitch, would have ever expected such a film: Jannik Sinner taken in Poci by Tommy Paul and the first set lost 6-1. “Sorry, we joked”, the blue seems to say while it comes out of the “off” mode and, with the same speed with which she had grossed that partial, she puts things back in place: 1-6 6-0 6-3. The number 1 of the world also makes an impression, not only when Ruud liquidates in 63 minutes, giving him just a game. A match started very badly and put back on the right tracks with an unequivocal demonstration of strength and personality. The champion, on the other hand, is seen on the days that seem cursed. This day, however, ends up in glory: Sinner in the final at the International of Italy, Sunday (not before 5pm) against Carlos Alcaraz, that is, the best spot that global tennis can offer. Jannik is again to the final act of a tournament, 110 days after the Australian Open final won against Zverev. The disqualification for doping is definitively archived, now that doubts about the return to maximum competitiveness have been swept away. Moreover, it is the first final of Jannik on earth from Umago 2022 (Batté, coincidentally, Alcaraz). The whole country is celebrating: the last Italian to arrive in the final at the International had been Adriano Panatta in 1978, defeated by Borg in five sets. And of Panatta is also the last triumph at the Forum, in 1976.

the game

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It is a shock start for the Roman public. Paul makes the break and goes 2-0. The US, already semi -finalist in Rome in 2024 but not exactly a doc land (50% of games won on the slow, at Roland Garros never beyond the 3rd round), plays with the free mind of those who have nothing to lose, stands with his feet inside the field, is aggressive and responds to the great. Just a right in response, sliding on the line, gives him the second break, that of the 4-0. Paul also tries to vary with the back, while Sinner is a stunt double for himself. It is so wrong, he suffers, he is impatient to get out of the exchange. He is also amazed at the approach to the game and does not hide the frustration in the dialogues with the corner. After five games lost consecutively, he finally conquers one. But the American n.12 of the ranking does not tremble in the service and wins the partial to the first set point: 6-1, not to be believed. The last slip of these proportions dates back to last September, when Jannik ceded the second set to Medvedev in the quarterfinals of the US Open with the same score, winning in four partials. The statistics of this 6-1 Roman, which lasted 28 minutes, are eloquent: 13 unformed errors and only two winners for Sinner, with 68% of the first service and just 45% of points won on the first. A folding score compared to yesterday’s first set against Ruud. But then another game begins. Sinner stops cursing and really plays. It is clear from a frame, in particular: that Lungolinea reverse, its trademark, finally freed for the first break of the meeting (2-0). The confirmation of the turnaround reaches the next game. The Killer Instinct of the number 1 in the world is back: on 15-40 Piazza Due ace in a row, cancels two balls of the counterbreak and flies 3-0. Now no one stops him anymore, certainly not Paul who comes back with his feet on the ground. At the service it is 40-0 but it commits two double fouls that trigger the Sinnerian comeback. We are 4-0, immediately afterwards converted in 5-0. The roles overturned. Or rather, the roles have aligned with the hierarchies that everyone knows. The tranquility found from South Tyrolean is also expressed with a dampened that scores. It is the 6-0 coat, matured by minimizing the errors (4 against the 10 winners) and returning to serve on its standards (82% of the first, 79% of points won on the first). Now everyone has the clear perception of how this game will end. Sinner makes it clear immediately keeping the first round of the third set to zero and placing the 2-0 break. On 3-1 Sinner slows down and brings back the opponent to the game that tears the service. But it’s just a moment. Jannik resumes the advantage of a break by demonstrating, among other things, an enviable estate: very hard exchange, 18 shots, concluded with a length reverse in the race. The local darling flies 5-2 and closes 6-3. It is the number 26 victory in a row. A journey started from Beijing in October, which seems to never want to end up.