That "strange" game of Jannik

At the end of the first set a title came to mind: “Ruud’s revenge”, beaten in the quarterfinals by Sinner 6-0 6-1. That 6-1 taken by Sinner from Tommy Paul threw the Foro Italico into despair, never so silent during a match played by the number one in the world. A different Sinner from the one seen up to now. The Roman evening is cold, the balls don’t bounce. Sinner tells his bench, who however asks the player for a reaction. A reaction that can be glimpsed at the end of the first set, when by then, in any case, there is very little to do. But then, the second set is the one of the resurrection.

Something clicked in the Italian player who, finally, manages to push and gain ground, thus being able to exploit the power of his shots. It is a set that seems to seek a sort of sporting revenge. "You gave me 6-1? And I give you a nice 6-0". Everything thus returns to the starting point and it is the third set that decides who will challenge Carlos Alcaraz in the final on Sunday. Things start well and Jannik earns a break. He takes the lead 3-0 but then his appearance changes. He no longer seems to have the strength. He looks like Samson after a visit to the hairdresser. Paul recovers the disadvantage break and seems, as in the first set, to find his initial shine again. Sinner touches his right thigh adductor several times. The leg is the one with the foot with the blister that for a few rounds has made him see stars when he plays; it is there, in a point on the sole of the foot that is essential for his game. But the doubt is: is it the blister or is it a torn muscle? The difference would be notable. There is a semi-final to win and a final with the fast and powerful Spaniard.

Sinner gets a break again, even at 5-2 he has the possibility of two match points but Paul cancels them and goes to 5-3. Sinner serves shots while the match, at this stage, is not made by the players' winners but by their errors. In the end Sinner, who is still visibly in pain at alternating stages, manages to close the match during his service turn. The final is reached but there is some concern about his condition even though he, in interviews, says that everything is fine. The spotlight is on tomorrow's training to understand what the situation of the world number one really is.