NEW YORK. The third American opponent in four matches (including the one to be played today) in his path – precisely – at the American Open tennis tournament. Just as a statistical-demographic curiosity, it certainly cannot be said that Jannik Sinner has been favored, so far, on the courts of Flushing Meadows, in terms of potential support from the public. But this matters little to the world number one, in reality: the talent from Pusteria, whatever anyone may say, does not seem to be one who is influenced too much by the fans, whether they are for or against.
Just as well, because today, or rather in the Italian night between today and tomorrow (starting after 7pm in New York, 1am here, after the women’s match Swiatek – Samsonova, so around 9pm American time, 3am our time…), in the round of 16 of the US Open she will find herself facing an American tennis player, on the rise and with the home crowd obviously on her side.
AND Tommy Paul today’s opponent of Jannik Sinner: on paper not the most difficult that could happen to the Italian but, as the champion from Sesto Pusteria said, at Flushing Meadows “there are always surprises”. Let’s hope not this time.
The American is coming off a victory over Canadian Gabriel Diallo, in four sets (and two tie breaks) in the Italian night between Saturday and yesterday. The last time he met Sinner was in Toronto: “In Canada, Sinner played so well that he took the racket out of my hands,” Paul said when he learned of today’s clash. “I’ll try to make things difficult for him in some way, but it won’t be easy.”
The 27-year-old American, number 14 ATP, fears the Italian: «The draw on the opposite side has opened up, with the exits of Alcaraz and Djokovic, but my half definitely not. I’m playing against the number one and it will be very tough, but I’m excited about the idea, with the great chance of playing at the Arthur Ashe Stadium – he explained -. It won’t be easy. Jannik is the best hitter on the circuit, if you start playing baseline matches with him you won’t get out of it. I’ll have to try to come up with something different». Mutual respect from the Alto Adige native.
“The opponents are getting tougher and tougher and each of them, who reaches the qualification, deserves to be there – commented Sinner -. Tennis is an unpredictable sport and where nothing is taken for granted. You always have to be focused. Every match is difficult and we will see what happens in the next one”.
Looking at the precedents, Sinner and Paul have faced each other three times and the Italian is ahead 2-1 in their direct confrontations: in fact, he won in 2022 in the first round of the Madrid Masters 1000, on clay, 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-3, and in the semifinal of the Montreal Masters 1000 again in 2022 by 6-4, 6-4; the American instead had the upper hand with the score 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the round of 16 of Eastbourne again in 2022.
2024-09-02 20:59:28