Sinner beats the Russian Kotov (despite the pain) and qualifies for the round of 16 in Madrid. Some concern about physical problems

A game with two sides, authoritarian and at the same time uncertain. It’s the one that Jannik Sinner he played and won against the Russian Pavel Kotov, which ended with a score of 6-2 7-5. After competitive training against Lorenzo Sonegothis success allows the blue to reach the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Madrid, the minimum objective he had set himself the day before. Now for the world number 2 there will be one between Flavio Cobolli e Karen Khachanov.

The match against Kotov represents another important test for the blue. Having managed to bring home the victory despite a physical discomfort which seemed to have undermined the dominance of the first set. Go beyond difficulties with careful and conscious physical and technical management, waiting for the right opportunity. In Kotov’s case, this manifested itself in the most classic of situations, when the Russian was called to close the second set. A submissive attitude that continued in the following two games, the ones that concluded the challenge.

A difficult success, but which was useful for Sinner to understand his current margins after the heavy workloads in the gym post Monte Carlo. Workouts that could also be at the origin of nuisance accused in this match. While waiting to find out more about his condition, the feeling remains that it is nothing really serious. The growth at the end of the match and the coach’s constant encouragement not to give up Simon Vagnozzi (“Let’s try to win it this way too”) are two signs in this sense. And with the Italian internationals a Roma and the Roland Garros it would be illogical to risk it if there was an inkling of something truly worrying. “I’ve had some hip problems recently – explained and reassured Sinner after the race -. It’s nothing serious, but sometimes I feel the pain more intensely. I will try to be 100 percent tomorrow.” The continuation of the run in the Madrid tournament brings with it other points in the standings. Sinner continues to gnaw at ground a Novak Djokovic and now the distance is around 1,200 points, with the prospect of shortening it to just over 1,000 in the event of a quarter-final.

The match – The start oscillated between the authoritarian and the uncertain. To the break of Sinner have joined counter-break by Kotov twice. A calculated and broken balance in the key moment of the first set, halfway through, for a 6-2 with absolute ease. Kotov tries to do something more in the second set, and the effort is rewarded with a break advantage. It is the most complicated moment for Sinner, also due to a discomfort in his right side which limits his movements, especially on the right side. Yet, despite the pain, the blue player finds a way to raise the bar in the moment that counts, that is when Kotov serves to take the challenge to the third. The inertia of controbreak at 5-4 he pushes the blue up to three consecutive match points. Kotov cancels them all, but can’t prevent a fourth chance for Sinner. And this time it’s the right one. His forehand is barely touched by the young Russian.

The article Sinner beats the Russian Kotov (despite the pain) and qualifies for the round of 16 in Madrid. Some concern about physical problems comes from Il Fatto Quotidiano.

2024-04-29 19:50:58
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