2023-11-15 10:22:24
World No.1 Novak Djokovic was beaten by Italian Jannik Sinner (4th) 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/2) after a long arm of iron of 3:08 at the ATP Masters, Tuesday in Turin, and will have to win against the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (9th) to qualify for the semi-finals. Galvanized by his audience, the 22-year-old Italian created a sensation by beating for the first time in his career the 36-year-old Serbian, winner of 24 Grand Slam tournaments and recent winner of the Masters 1000 in Paris.
Difficult winner in his first match against Dane Holger Rune, also in more than three hours, Djokovic this time came up against Sinner, impressing in particular in his management of the decisive game of the last round. The Italian who will face Rune in the last match can still qualify in this very undecided green group.
In the first round, the two men remained neck and neck for a long time. While Djokovic had just scored a third shutout, Sinner got back to 5-5 and even got himself a break point when the Serb double-faulted after leading 40-0.
The Italian did not miss his chance to take control and serve to win the set. A round that Sinner, in full confidence, won thanks to a shutout against a Djokovic who had become more feverish (7-5).
Bataille d’aces
In a more disjointed start to the second set for the Italian, Djokovic was able to rely on his serve. But the Italian also found an effective throw at the right time to equalize at 2-2 by scoring his 9th ace of the game, as many as his opponent. Thanks in particular to two additional aces, Djokovic easily won the next game, but again Sinner did not give up (3-3).
Always very solid on serve (20 aces in total for Djokovic, 15 for Sinner), the two players continued their mano a mano until 6-6. In a very tight decisive game, the Serb had two set points. He wasted the first by sending a forehand into the net. Serving on the second, a return into his opponent’s net gave the world No.1 the second set 7-6 (7/5).
But Sinner, far from admitting defeat, broke Djokovic in the last round to lead 4-2. An advantage that the Serb, however, erased immediately by taking his opponent’s service for the first time during this match, before confirming his put into play thanks to a shutout (4-4). The Italian responded with… a shutout.
Still tied (6-6), the two players had to decide again in the deciding game. This time, the Italian was much stronger than his illustrious elder to conclude 7-6 (7/2)
IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF FIRE ????
The moment Jannik Sinner knocked down world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a home THRILLER to become the first Italian player in history to notch two victories in the #NittoATPFinals ⚡️????????pic.twitter.com/ZGiRUuBqDP
— Univers Tennis ???? (@UniversTennis) November 14, 2023
Earlier, in this same group, Holger Rune, 8th in the world, won against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th), forced to retire after only three games, due to a back injury. The 20-year-old Dane, quarter-finalist at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon this year, remains in the race for a place in the semi-finals.
It is the Pole Hubert Hurkacz who will replace Tsitsipas in the group and will face Djokovic on Thursday. In six confrontations, the Serb has always beaten the Pole.
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