Jannik’s numbers and the fear for Wada
I speak of a feat because the annexation of the second set, in which Medvedev he used up a lot of his remaining energy, it seemed to give the Russian the advantage of someone who has just got back on his feet after a game that started out lame. In reality, it was Sinner at that moment to widen the vortex of exchanges again, to exploit Medvedev’s natural need to catch his breath and to take possession of the court to trace increasingly sharp lines, often concluded by peremptory runs to the net. Twenty-eight out of thirty-three at the end of the match, while Medvedev settled on decidedly lower values: 16 runs to the net on target out of the 24 attempted. The data is at the centre of a report card that is worth a promotion: Sinner has better percentages on services won (76% with the first serve, 61% with the second), on break points (5 out of 15, against 2 out of 8), on winners and unforced errors (31/38 against 30/57) and on total points scored, where the advantage over the Russian takes on ever more significant values, 115 to 91. The sign of a convincing performance, which allowed Sinner to also have the fourth set, perhaps the most fought, resolved by a break that came at the right time, at 3 all, with Jannik quick to go up 0-40 and close on the third break point, after having conceded two to Medvedev in the previous game.
Sinner, poker of semi-finals
He is the first Italian, JS, to sign poker of semifinals in the Grand Slam tournaments. Before him Berrettini had come close, three semifinals and a fourth at Roland Garros. Panatta also signed three semifinals, but all in Paris. The last year, from the end of the US Open 2023 to today, has counted 80 matches for 73 victories and just 7 defeats. Five of these are dated 2024. In the rankings today Jannik is at 9980, a hair’s breadth from the 10 thousand points that were the endowment of the Fab Three during their respective dominances. Zverev is now 2905 points away, Alcaraz 3290, Djokovic (ninth in the Race, and without a Slam victory) is at 4420, Medvedev, having failed to overtake Djoker, remains at 4505 points from the Italian. In order not to see JS at the top of the end-of-year rankings (the first Italian to do so, obviously), devastating hypotheses such as earthquakes would have to take shape.
Sinner e Draper
One is expected today, the deadline for Wada’s pronouncement on the doping issue.. I say it bluntly: if the international body intervenes to suspend Sinner after a favorable ruling (Itia) and one step away from a possible victory in the second Slam of his career, the injustice will be so enormous (even towards the tournament) that it will be thoughtless and smelly, taken only out of spite towards the agency that conducted the investigation and with the sole purpose of reaffirming his own power. But there is a semi-final to deal with, against Jack DraperEnglish left-hander, who has grown enormously in recent times. Great serves and fast, powerful shots. Good friend of Sinner and occasional doubles partner. «He is a guy I get along with, very well-mannered and also very funny. He represents a legend for many of us, who are his age. When we were among the juniors, and we played doubles, we would pick him because he seemed the least equipped. Today he dominates tennis, with great merit». The only precedent is from 2021, at Queen’s, so far away and on grass, but Draper won it (7-6 7-6). Beware of your friends, Jannik…The advice is worth a final.
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