Jannik beats the Australian in two sets, 6-3 6-4, on his debut: in the group Nastase will now challenge Fritz and Medvedev
The roar is one of those that reverberate in the chest. One of those who would make even a tapascione at the Sunday match a champion. Imagine Jannik Sinner, who on his debut at the Finals, as number 1, is encouraged by chants and stadium cheering at every move. The excellent Alex De Minaur, defeated seven times out of seven, the first just five years ago in Italy in the Next Gen final, tries to do his best, but Jannik doesn't leave him much room for maneuver and closes 6-3 6-4 in a half an hour earning the challenge with Taylor Fritz on Tuesday. The Australian will instead face Daniil Medvedev in the defeaters' match. Tomorrow it will be the turn of the Newcombe Group with Carlos Alcaraz in the afternoon against Casper Ruud in the afternoon and Zverev against Rublev in the evening.
THE MATCH
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As soon as he enters the court, serving, Sinner puts his cards on the table: he starts with an ace and ends the first game at zero. De Minaur takes an immediate risk, gets caught at 30-30 but manages to lead the game. The same happens to Jannik in the third game but this time a forehand block turns into a break opportunity for Damon who sprints forward thanks to a backhand error from the world number 1. De Minaur's joy does not last long, Sinner plays a game in response as the number 1 in the world, recovers the deficit by closing with a lightning cross-court backhand and triggers “L'olè Sinnèr” which unleashes the red fury. Jannik increases his speed, both with his feet and with his arm, even the usually quickest Damon is unable to keep up with him and so in the sixth game he loses the serve. Sinner consolidates the lead to zero and goes up 5-2. When he serves for the match at 5-3, the world number 1 argues with his serve, double faults and finds himself 30-30. Don't panic, he regains the lead and closes 6-3 after 38 minutes. Second set that opens with Sinner under pressure who gets close to 30-30 but doesn't break the serve from the Australian, he tries with more conviction in the third game going up 0-30, but two forehands into the net bring De Minaur back on the right path and to lead 2-1. The third attempt, at 2-2, seems the right one: Sinner goes 40-0 on the Australian serve but a spectator feels ill. The game stops, Jannik asks for some water and gives it to the unfortunate girl. He recovers and the Australian recovers 40-40. Jannik earns a fourth break point and closes for 3-2 in an hour. In the sixth game Sinner starts from behind: from 0-30 to 40-30, he hits a volley and finds himself in the lead but gets out of trouble and seals the 4-2. At 5-4 he serves for the match and starts with the ace, goes up 40-0 and closes it with another ace on the first match point. Mission accomplished.
