Jannik passes 7-6 1-1 and retires against the Canadian. At 7.30pm he faces the Dutch n. 30 for a place in the final
– rotterdam (ola)
Jannik Sinner is in the semifinals at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam, Milos Raonic retires after a first set played at full strength but won in the tie break by the blue 7-5. This is victory number 200 for the South Tyrolean, and he is the first born in the third millennium to achieve this result. Tomorrow at 7.30pm he will seek a place in the final against Tallon Griekspoor, the Dutchman who started the South Tyrolean’s winning streak in the Davis Cup match.
ONE WIN FROM NO. 3
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Now Jannik’s consecutive victories are 13 and the number 3 in the world is just one victory away: “Against Griekspoor it won’t be easy because he has improved a lot, he serves well, he has improved on his backhand too. But I like playing these matches, even when there are ‘It’s tension. Number 3 is an important result, certainly, but I will only become one if I have deserved it. Otherwise I will remain number 4 and continue to work.” It wasn’t easy with Raonic: “It’s a match that I hope to play again because it taught me some things. I have to learn to also face players who serve so hard and don’t give you the rhythm. Next time I’ll try to do better.”
THE FIRST SET
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Raonic immediately puts the gun on the table: the first 15 is an ace at 233 km/h, and the first game is immaculate, zero. The Canadian is obviously forced to play to the limit to avoid the exchange with Jannik. In the first two innings the Canadian doesn’t give up a single point, it’s up to the South Tyrolean to try to undermine him but it’s not an easy thing.
The 33-year-old, who plays with a protected ranking due to having been out of the circuit for more than a year, is polished and has nothing to lose, his arm is loose and stones are raining down on the lines. And in the fourth game Sinner must extract courage and a velvet hand to win the 2-2 with two consecutive drop shots. In the fifth, the first opportunity for Jannik: he manages to intercept Raonic’s tracers, forces him to exchange, and breaks his serve, putting him ahead 3-2. Unfortunately, however, he returns to the field out of focus, makes two errors too many and has to return the break. An avoidable mess. Raonic thus goes up 4-3 and the blue player gets nervous because he is unable to hit the ball well. Meanwhile, the Canadian calls for physio for a problem with his right leg, he undergoes long treatment but doesn’t break Jannik’s rhythm who returns to the field and holds scoreless for the 4-4. However, the situation is not simple, Milos starts churning out aces again, Sinner is unable to exchange, he can’t find a way to break his rival’s chain. Even at 5-4 for the Canadian Jannik serves and makes two errors: 0-30, 15-40 and two set points for Raonic. With the coldness that distinguishes him, Sinner cancels them and the first set is decided by tie break.
tie break and withdrawal
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Which of course Raonic opens with an ace. At 2-2 Jannik gestures to his box, Vagnozzi and Naldi smile, evidently a coded message. Whatever it was, it worked: minibreak and 4-2 Sinner who extends 5-2. Milos holds his two serves and shortens 5-4, then Jannik finds his measure and finally closes the set in his favor. In the second set, Jannik holds serve at the start but at 1-1 Raonic stops, salutes the referee and retires. Sinner is in the semifinals.
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