ATP Beijing, Sinner on the court with pain in his heart for the death of his aunt Margith

(Adnkronos) – Jannik Sinner is ready to defend his title at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Twelve months ago in the Chinese capital he began his climb to world number one by beating the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals and the Russian Daniil Medvedev in the final, for the first time in his career. The US Open champion has already been in China for a few days with coach Simone Vagnozzi and his team, which for a week has also included athletic trainer Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Uises Badio. The 23-year-old from Alto Adige will debut against the 28-year-old Chilean Nicolas Jarry, number 28 in the world, and then face in the second round the German Jan-Lennard Struff, number 38 ATP, or the Swiss Wawrinka, number 233 in the ranking and in the draw with a wild card but former number 3 and winner of three Slam titles. Probable fourth against the Bulgarian Dimitrov, number 10 in the world, while in the semifinal he could find either the Russian Andrey Rublev, number 6 in the ranking or his compatriot Lorenzo Musetti, number 19 ATP and sixth seed. In the final with all probability Alcaraz or Medvedev, second and third favorite of the seeding. It will be a tournament that Sinner will play with pain in his heart for the death, which occurred last Saturday at only 56 years of age, of his beloved aunt Margith Rauchegger, sister of mother Siglinde, who when he was little took care of him and his brother Mark, when their parents were busy working. Only a few days ago Sinner managed to go and visit her to say goodbye one last time. But he will not be able to be present today in the parish church of Villabassa in Alta Val Pusteria, when at 1.45 pm the funeral of the woman to whom he dedicated the title of the Us Open won just over two weeks ago will be held. —[email protected] (Web Info)