It is not known whether Novak Djokovic watched this match. But if so, he’s lost a lot of nerve. For two and a half hours it was unknown what his fate would be in the tournament. Should he pack and get ready? Davis Cup, or stay and wait for the semi-final rival? And all because of the set lost in the match against Hubert Hurkacz. Ultimately, Jannik Sinner saved the Serb’s skindefeating the well-played Rune.
In the first set, Sinner gives a tennis lesson to Rune
Sinner quickly showed that he intended to take this match seriously. He started with a 4-0 lead. He was extremely confident in himself and his abilities. But he didn’t exaggerate like Rune, who was playing too bravely at the time and giving up too many easy points. He calmly headed towards his goal.
There was no way the Dane could catch up with the Italian. He was too slow, too anticipatory, just much weaker. He won his two service games. But this way he only lost this set honorably (2:6), which lasted only 33 minutes.
The Renaissance of Holger Rune. Sinner’s injury?
Rune was reborn in the second set. Gradually. Not immediately. He first had a break point in the fourth game, and in the next game he defended himself from breaking. He played solidly. There was no longer such a drastic difference between the two tennis players. And it was the Dane who had the deciding vote at the end. In the 12th game, quite unexpectedly, it became 40-0 for Skandydawa. Sinner failed to compensate for this loss. He lost a set.
Worse still at the end of the second game and the beginning of the third The Italian kept grabbing his lower back. However, he did not report the injury and did not call a physiotherapist. He played as if there was nothing wrong with him. And slowly he took the initiative.
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The Italian’s courage was rewarded
He had two break points in the third game of the third set. The Dane despite the very tense and long situation quarrel with a French judge, whistles in his direction, he prevented a breakthrough. He also saved a break point in the fifth game. Everything indicated that the culmination of this set and the match would be a tie-break.
Sinner all the time he played bravely and aggressively, even when he defended himself against losing his serve (eighth game). In the ninth, thanks to this attitude, it was already 40-0 for the Italian. This advantage decreased by two points, but on the third break point the hosts’ tennis player went to the net and played in such a way that Rune had no chance of receiving the ball. It was one of the most beautiful actions of the match. He was leading 5:4 and passed. He probably won “his” game and match.
There is one unknown left in the ATP Finals
From the Green Group to the semi-finals – as expected, but not in this order – Sinner and Djokovic. The date of their next matches is known – Saturday, but they are waiting for their rivals. They will meet them tomorrow.
In the Red Group, he is now sure of playing in the top four of the tournament Daniil Medvedev. They still have a chance to advance Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard will play against the Russian at 2:30 p.m., and the German will play against the Russian who no longer has any hope of getting out of the group Andrei Rublev at 9 p.m. Broadcasts of both meetings on Polsat Sport and Polsat Sport Extra.
ATP Finals tournament in Turin – 3rd round matches
Jannik Sinner (Italy, 4) – Holger Rune (Denmark, 8) 6:2, 5:7
Novak Djokovic (Servia, 1) – Hubert Hurkacz (Poland) 7:6 (1), 4:6, 6:1
Green Group – final table
1. Jannik Sinner 3 3-0 6:2
2. Novak Djokovic 3 2-1 5:4
3. Holger Rune 3 1-2 4:4
4. Hubert Hurkacz 1 0-1 1-2
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas 2 0-2 0:4
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