Sinner, who is Elmer Moller: the next opponent in Madrid

One day they ask Casper Ruud for his opinion on Scandinavia’s number 3, Elmer Moller, who has just qualified as a lucky loser at Roland Garros. The boy from Aarhus, born in 2003, is participating in a Slam for the first time, and so Ruud opts for the path of sincerity: “I admit that I haven’t seen much of him. But one thing left me stunned: I came across his compilation of backhands, and I have to say that it’s crazy. I wish I had it…”. In the CV of Sinner’s next opponent in Madrid there is an investiture lady.

the reverse

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The Dane’s two-handed backhand has garnered acclaim with reasonable speed over the years. They especially notice it around the Challengers in the last two seasons: Moller wins four and all on clay, a surface that becomes congenial to him because it enhances that acceleration from the left with which he begins to make himself known. Ruud also admits it: “I saw that video and thought: ‘If I had that shot, I would definitely be a better player’. It seems really, really aggressive to me. Well done, I hope to see him live soon.” The two miss each other at the last Wimbledon which actually acts as a revolving door: Casper’s withdrawal favors the Dane, who is brought back into the main draw.

The route to Madrid

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Moller is the same age as Rune with whom he logically grew up shoulder to shoulder: “Of course, we have participated in tournaments in all categories since we were children” he confided last year in an interview, “and our careers, however, travel at different levels. He is much better than me, which is why I admire everything he does”. What is certain is that, thanks to the serious injury of his compatriot, Denmark has now entrusted itself to him. And Elmer proved he has broad shoulders: at the 1000 in Madrid he made his way through the qualifications without losing a set and then overtaking our Federico Cinà and Diallo in the main draw (who retired at 3-3 in the second set, after having lost the first). Clear ideas during the exchange, assiduous search for the winning shot (28 against the Sicilian) and obviously the backhand on display: he manages to get to the ball with timing, often charging the shot with the power of a smash. He too will be happy to test his progress against a guru of the specialty like Jannik.

emotions in a davis cup

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– Clay is in the heart, if it is true that all the Challenger finals played on this surface are counted. And his debut in the main draw of a Masters 1000: 2025 edition, defeat against Joao Fonseca in the first round, arrived precisely on clay, curiously in Madrid: “Splendid experience, his shots are really strong”. Another special tournament for Moller is the one with the shirt of his national team, that Davis Cup which last September gave him very strong emotions: his Denmark went out bitterly in Marbella against the Spanish hosts, but he won the first match with Munar. On red clay, obviously.