Just one of the many tiafoe games: clapping with the audience. © APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH
It was a defeat that puzzled Jannik Sinner. He looked like the sure winner against Frances Tiafoe, but in the end he had to admit defeat in an incredible match. The 20-year-old didn’t like the way his opponent tried to throw him off.
October 30, 2021
Author: it
Jannik Sinner experienced a rollercoaster of emotions this weekend. On Friday evening he defeated Casper Ruud, number 8 in the world, and not only made it to the semifinals of the ATP 500 tournament in Vienna, but also catapulted himself into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time, where he will appear in 9th position on Monday will. Less than 24 hours later, however, the young star saw one, if not the bitterest, defeat of his career so far.
Against Frances Tiafoe, Sinner was in the lead 6: 3, 5: 3 after an excellent performance and served to win the match when suddenly and unexpectedly nothing worked. And so the Sesto gambled away the victory that was believed to be certain and the final ticket. Of course, his opponent Frances Tiafoe played a major role in this, who on the one hand played a big role and celebrated an impressive resurrection. And on the other hand, with his games for cheers in the stands, but at the same time also caused trouble for Sinner.
“There are limits that, in my opinion, he exceeded them today.”
Jannik Sinner
“This time he really exaggerated,” said Sinner at the press conference after the match. “From the first change of sides, he always commented on my serve, I didn’t answer,” says the Pusterer, who continues: “He shot me three times, went down when he made a point and clapped him again and again Audience. There are limits that I think he exceeded today. Perhaps I should have gone to the referee so that he complied with the 25-second rule. ”To explain, the service must be made within 25 seconds.
Tiafoe wanted to make Sinner nervous
In fact, Tiafoe has always played his games. So he ran after a towering point from Sinner to a fan and leaned his head on his shoulder in disbelief. After the match, the US boy made no secret of the fact that he made this show aware. “I know how to get the audience on my side and I wanted to understand whether I can make him nervous with it,” says the 23-year-old.
For Sinner, after the defeat, his excellent last few weeks were only little consolation. “Sure, I can’t complain about how things have been in the past few weeks. But today I dropped 100 points. Of course there is now the Masters tournament in Paris, but everyone will be there. That is why it would have been important to take a head start here. Now I have to try to take the good with me, because there is an intense week waiting, ”says the Sesto, indicating the direction of the march.
