Jannik Sinner's outburst returns Italy to the top of tennis
Spotless throughout the entire week at the Martín Carpena Pavilion, Jannik Sinner crowned his path with a new victory, this one to give Italy its second Davis Cup. The world number 4 and recent runner-up in the ATP Finals defeated the Australian Alex de Miñaur, 12th, 6-3 and 6-0, in one hour and 21 minutes, and rescued the Salad Bowl for his country, 47 years after Adriano Panatta, Corrado Barazutti and Paolo Bertolucci, three classics from a very beautiful time, each with their own route and their own hallmarks, will raise the trophy after defeating Chile. Matteo Arnaldi's victory against Alexei Popyrin left the decision in the hands of the transalpine hero, who had produced a magical performance in the semifinals against Serbia, saving three match points against Novak Djokovic to also win the final double with Lorenzo Sonego as an ally and the number 1 in the world again on the other side of the net.
Italy has a solid leader, a 22-year-old player who has grown exponentially in the last stretch of the season and suggests great things for the coming season.. In the year in which he won his first Masters 1000 in Toronto, in addition to winning the titles in Montpellier, Beijing and Vienna, and defeated Djokovic twice in nine days, whom he had never beaten, Sinner has found himself in the Davis Cup , a competition unlike any other, which multiplies the responsibility of any player as it is a collective enterprise in a sport of individual essence, a new platform to continue maturing.
The tennis player seems to have been left behind, physically fragile and somewhat vulnerable in the emotional territory.. Stronger than anyone, sober, competent and, in a way, not very Italian, due to his way of understanding the competition and his temperament, Sinner is also a role model, a player capable of fighting for a victory that he did not need. , facing his physical problems, as he did against Holger Rune in the third match of the group stage in Turin, although as a consequence he brought Djokovic back to life, later his executioner in the final.
a perfect solo
Since taking an early lead in the first set against De Minaur, an opponent against whom he had only lost one set in their five previous meetings, Sinner did not relinquish control of the match.. Courageous, as usual, the Sydney player tried to defend Australia's options to press their luck until the doubles match and continue fighting for their 29th Davis Cup, an award that has eluded them since 2003, when they beat Spain led by Lleyton Hewitt , now in the captaincy. She had an option to equalize at four, frustrated by Sinner's severity with his serve, one of the shots she has refined the most in recent months. The second set was an extended solo by Sinner, the perfect culmination of his successive performances since last Thursday.
This Italy announces a fortunate future alongside its undisputed leader. Matteo Berrettini, former world number 6, winner of seven ATP titles, and Wimbledon finalist in 2021, can be a luxury shooting guard if he regains his physical and competitive tone. Lorenzo Musetti, 21 years old, 27th in the ranking, still tender talent, to be polished, also has the opportunity to gain weight in a group in which Arnaldi, 22, 44th, and even Lorenzo Sonego, 28, 47th, have their role . Around Sinner, and always depending on the evolution and commitment of each of its members, Filippo Volandri begins to build a team capable of marking an era.