Giuseppe Di Giovanni
October 17, 2024 (changed at 11.10pm) – MILANO
It’s true, the ATP will never recognize this match in its archives. But Jannik Sinner reaches the final of the Six Kings Slam – the very rich exhibition tournament played in Saudi Arabia – beating Novak Djokovic for the fourth consecutive time, the fifth in nine matches (even if the official score will remain 4-4). Yet another demonstration of strength from the Italian champion, who after the control shown in the Shanghai final, brings out the determination that only such a convincing world number 1 can show off, despite the epilogue in the third set. Jannik is increasingly unplayable and in difficult situations he overcomes Nole 6-2 6-7 (0) 6-4 in two hours and 27 minutes. The Serbian recently declared that Sinner reminds him of him as a young man: he is absolutely right.
HE MATCH
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If Djokovic’s backhand on the first point of the match makes Nole think of better times, what happens immediately afterwards is a treatise on “Sinnerian” superiority. Jannik finds an immediate break (he scores on the third chance on a forehand completely snatched by the Serbian) and dominates his serves. Djoker tries to play further from the baseline, but there is no match. Sinner manages until 2-5, when Nole is forced to serve to stay in the set. He doesn’t succeed, because Jannik finds the break that is worth the victory of the first set, in 27 minutes of play.
REACTION
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Djoker is a champion capable of finding life even on the worst days and in the first game of the second set he finds Robot Nole. The Serbian breaks Jannik’s serve, something that hasn’t happened since the Davis 2023 final in Malaga. Sinner, called to the net, sends the volley onto the tape and Novak gets a chance in the second set. At 0-2 comes one of the best points of the match: Jannik finds the counter-block which also earns Djokovic’s applause. The Serbian plays a terrible fourth game and grants the counter-break to the blue, who settles the situation. It slips to 5-4 for Jannik on serve, with Nole still forced to serve to stay afloat. Jannik begins to play with a counterattack and goes up 0-30 despite repeating a point at 0-15. Sinner finds himself two points away from the match, but Djoker has a surge of pride and scores four consecutive points, remaining alive. It’s 5-5 and the former world number 1 has half a chance, going up 0-30 (Sinner commits five double faults up to that point, there will be 7 in total). But Jannik “returns the favor” and with four points in a row goes up 6-5, securing the tie-break. Djokovic holds the serve and the decisive moment arrives. The Serbian goes 3-0 ahead and favors the blue’s blackout. It ends 7-0 for Djoker, who takes the match to the decisive set after Novak’s worst tie-break of the season.
THE EPILOGUE
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The third set, which opens with a break from Sinner and a counter-break from Djokovic, shows that the match has become very close. The fifth game, the longest of the match, is resolved by Nole who cancels four break points and bangs his fist on his heart, going up 3-2. Djoker gets two break points in his favor in the sixth game, ones that can give a very strong shock to the match. Jannik’s backhand down the line and a forehand across the tape settle things and somehow Sinner makes it 3-3. At this point we also see Neymar in Riyadh: it’s the moment that counts. Sinner has two break points in his favor and this time he senses the right asset, taking it to 4-3 and giving the turn that could be decisive (two serious errors by Nole with the forehand). Jannik starts the eighth game with two double faults and comes to the break point, which Djokovic realizes for the 4-4 with a great attack at the net. Nole spreads his arms and calls to the crowd, the match has become wonderful. Sinner quickly goes up 15-40 and takes the break (after a very tough exchange) which leads him to serve for the match. This time the counter-break doesn’t arrive and Sinner takes home the match after a thousand efforts, closing with an ace. On Saturday 19 October Sinner will challenge Carlos Alcaraz in the final, who beat the eternal Rafa Nadal 6-3 6-3.
