Outstanding in form: Jannik Sinner. © APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH
The superlatives have long since run out for Jannik Sinner. And yet the young Sesto impresses time and again. Shortly before midnight, the 20-year-old made it to the semi-finals of the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna – and will be among the 10 best tennis players in the world from Monday.
October 29, 2021
Author: it
It was a real test of character, a school leaving examination that Jannik Sinner had to take on Friday. The opponent in the quarter-finals was the Norwegian Casper Ruud, who is playing a very strong season and is in 8th position in the ATP ranking. The South Tyrolean was also not very impressed by the Scandinavian, did his thing and won the match 7: 5, 6: 1.
A victory that is historic. On Monday, Sinner will appear in the top 10 in the world! He overtakes both Dominic Thiem and Hubert Hurkacz in the ranking and is in 9th place in the virtual ranking. It is unbelievable what this young man can do. And it gets even better: By reaching the semi-finals in Vienna, Sinner has also made up a place in the “Race”, ie the annual ranking, and is currently in 8th place. This means that the Pusterer would currently be at the ATP finals in Turin .
Semi-finals on Saturday afternoon
But Sinner would not be Sinner if he already had enough. On Saturday (from around 3:30 p.m.) the semi-finals are due, in which he meets Frances Tiafoe. The American got the upper hand against Diego Schwartzman in the afternoon. The world rankings and the statistics speak for Sinner: Tiafoe is in 49th position and has lost the two previous duels against the young star.
Also artistically strong: Jannik Sinner. © ANSA / CHRISTIAN BRUNA
What Sinner delivered on Friday evening was once again first class. Although he was kept under suspicion for a long time (because the matches had dragged on, his quarter-finals only began shortly before 10 p.m.), he played equally big with his outstanding forehand. The result: With a quick break, he hurried away to 3: 1.
A high class match
Then the first and only weak phase crept in at Sinner, in which Ruud turned the result to 4: 3 and thus on its head with three games in a row. But Sinner kept his nerve, was there in the crucial moments and won the first set 7: 5 in a high-class match.
The Sinner engine was now running at full speed. Unbeatable with your own serve, brutally effective with opposing service – means: two breaks and a 4-0 lead in the second set. While Ruud looked desperate at times, Sinner pulled his match through to the end and with another break made the set to 6: 1 and thus the match.
