“I don’t play to make Italy’s history, I play for myself and to make my own path.” Jannik Sinner has expressed this concept in recent weeks regarding what is happening in world tennis. Let’s face it, we are not used to having to take note of a tennis player who knows how to rewrite the Italian boundaries in sport with racket and ball at the age of 22. And so, after the seal in Beijing at the beginning of October, beating Alcaraz and Medvedev in a row, Jannik wanted to reiterate the concept yesterday, placing the flag in the ATP 500 in Vienna and repeating the success in China against the Russian, who folded after more than three hours game. 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3 the score in favor of the South Tyrolean in a match where everything was seen, such as a game (the fourth of the third set) that lasted 20′, made up of 13 draws and 9 break points. The obsessive obstinacy of those who want to win at all costs was seen in that moment.
A result with a historic flavor because Sinner equals Adriano Panatta in terms of ATP titles (10) in his career, however reaching him at a decidedly early age. In fact, he is the first Italian to win 4 tournaments in a season and 3 500m titles, also reaching the fateful 80% victory mark in 2023, having collected 56 victories in 70 matches played. «I played very well in the first set, I managed to come back when he was ahead by a break – said the South Tyrolean -. I found a way in the first set, in the second he canceled the rallies, I had many break points and I managed to exploit them in the third. The match was very mental and I’m happy with how I handled it and with winning the title. It’s definitely one of my top five matches ever. Playing in the final is always special, especially against Medvedev because I have lost against him many times, but the latest victory in Beijing gave me confidence. That time there were more serves and volleys, here I had to adapt and I’m happy with how I managed.”
A match in which the improvements in the game were seen: not only great speed in the baseline exchange, but also the ability to vary when necessary, forcing Medvedev to hit balls of different weights. Variations on the theme that earned the trophy. And so, we are approaching the end of the season and for Jannik on the horizon are the Masters1000 in Paris-Bercy and above all the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals. Having strengthened his position as world no. 4, Sinner wants to give himself the same smile as yesterday, during the awards ceremony, to throw down the gauntlet with conviction in view of 2024 where the objective will be to hunt for his first Slam success.
