The Italian Jannik Sinner reduced the Serbian Novak Djokovic, ‘Master’ and number one, in the ATP Finals held in Turin with scores of 7-5 and 6-7 (5) and 7-6 (2), after more than three hours of intense battle that were decided in a tie-break in which the Italian destroyed the ‘Maestro’ 7-2, a historic moment for Italian tennis.
The young promise is the first Italian to win two matches in the Masters Cup and he could not do it in a more epic way, withstanding Djokovic’s reaction in the second set and with a final push in the last breath that gave him the victory, although the classification will be decided on the last day.
The highlight of the Green Group, after the disappointing confrontation between the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Danish Holger Run, conditioned by the Greek’s injury 17 minutes into the game due to back discomfort, faced two mass idols in Italy, but On this occasion, for the first time in a long time, ‘Nole’, confronted with the audience at various times with ironic gestures, did not enjoy the affection he is used to in transalpine lands.
And Turin, as it could not be otherwise, is clear about its favorite, a Sinner who needed to win in two sets to qualify for the semifinals, a difficult task against the world number one, who had not lost since the Wimbledon final against the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, chaining 19 consecutive victories, and for whom it was only enough to win to access the semi-finals of the title in which he defends all the points and in which he seeks to be crowned for the seventh time, surpassing the Swiss Roger Federer.
It was the fourth time they met officially in their career – all with victory for the Serbian – but the first time indoors and on one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. The first serves were key, there were up to 35 direct ones, but the battle, equal from the beginning, was decided by details, by the moods in which he went through during the hectic contest.
The options in the green group to advance to the semifinals are open. Sinner will achieve it if he beats Rune this Thursday and even losing by two sets against the Dane would achieve it, as long as Djokovic lost a set against Hurkacz. For his part, Djokovic will qualify if Sinner beats Rune. While the Dane qualifies if he wins 2-0 against Sinner and even winning 2-1, if Djokovic does not win 2-0 against Hurkacz. The semi-finalists could be decided based on win percentage if Rune beats Sinner 2-1 and Djokovic beats Hurkacz 2-0