Jannik Sinner is eager to chase the Olympic gold medal in Paris
Jannik Sinner is spending his first week as world no. 1, passing Novak Djokovic after Roland Garros. The Italian failed to win his second straight Major title, falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-final. Jannik will return to Paris in July, eager to claim the Olympic gold medal title on Court Phillipe-Chatrier.
Sinner claimed 12 consecutive wins at Majors since the beginning of the season, reaching the last four in Paris but suffering a tight 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat to his great rival. Alcaraz sealed the deal in four hours and nine minutes, overcoming two deficits and emerging at the top.
It was a physical struggle on both sides, with two rivals failing to bring their A-game after feeling cramps. The Spaniard kept his composure after losing the third set, producing 11 consecutive holds without facing a break point and moving into the title clash.
The Italian gathered two points more than the Spaniard, although he could not bring the victory home.
Carlos generated 65 winners and 58 unforced errors, leaving Jannik on a negative 39-44 ratio.
We saw six breaks on each side, and Alcaraz delivered his return games in the pivotal moments in the final two sets. Alcaraz served at 81% in the first set, which brought him nothing after getting broken three times! The Spaniard suffered a break in the first game of the clash, and the Italian landed a backhand winner in game two for a hold at love and 2-0.
Not stopping there, Sinner fired another backhand winner in game three for a break chance. Alcaraz sprayed a forehand error, getting broken for the second time and making a terrible start. Jannik closed the fourth game with a service winner but struggled at 4-1.
Carlos pulled one break back and reduced the deficit before experiencing more issues behind the initial shot. The Spaniard squandered a 40-15 lead and dropped serve after a forehand error, getting broken for the third time from four service games!
Jannik Sinner wants to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Jannik wrapped up the set with a hold in game eight, moving 6-2 in front after 40 minutes.
Carlos played another poor service game at the beginning of the second set, and Jannik cemented it with a forehand winner, clinching eight of the opening ten games! However, the Italian faced three break points in the fourth game after a double fault.
Alcaraz converted the second with a forehand winner, raising his level and gathering a boost. Carlos created a break chance at 3-2 with a volley winner and grabbed the second straight return game after the rival’s forehand mistake.
The Spaniard served for the set at 5-3 and closed it with a service winner, leveling the overall score after an hour and a half. Jannik struggled physically in the third set, shaking his left hand but keeping his composure.
Carlos clinched a break in the third game with a backhand crosscourt winner before Jannik pulled it back in the next one with a forehand winner for 2-2. The Italian saved four break points in the fifth game and closed it with a service winner for 3-2.
Sinner made a push on the return in the sixth game, seizing the third break point with a backhand return winner and opening a 4-2 advantage.
Jannik held in the seventh game with an unreturned serve, rattling off four games before receiving a massage on his left leg. The Italian held at 15 in game nine, clinching the set 6-3 and moving a set away from the finish line after two hours and 28 minutes.
They served well in the fourth set and stayed neck and neck. Sinner leveled the score at 4-4 with a service winner before Alcaraz produced another fine hold in the next one, keeping the pressure on the other side.
Jannik missed a routine smash at 30-15 and got broken after Carlos’ backhand winner, allowing the Spaniard to level the overall score at 2-2 and force a decider after three hours and 15 minutes.
Alcaraz held in the first game of the fifth set with a volley winner and landed a forehand down the line winner in the next one on a break point, extending his streak and opening a 2-0 advantage. The Spaniard grabbed the third game with a drop shot winner, extending the gap and moving closer to the finish line.
Leave a Reply