The ATP No.1, having obtained qualification for the Halle Open semifinals, explained what were the keys to the match
Jannik Sinner had to show all his determination and mental strength to beat Jan-Lennard Struff and qualify for the semi-final of the Halle Open. To reach the second semi-final of his career on grass-court, the young Italian needed three sets and two tie-breaks, opposed by an opponent – the German – who, enthusing and thrilling his crowd, played an almost perfect match.
Analyzing the challenge in the post-match interview, the ATP No.1 explained how the match against Struff was very tough and how he won the most important tie-break.
“I’m happy with the way I played the tie-break of the third set. I’m happy, because I had already lost three tie-breaks: perhaps I won the most important one. He is an incredible player, especially on this surface. You always have to try to create new opportunities and I knew I could lose such a close match like this. Now I want to recover and rest.
It was a very tough match. I had many opportunities in both the second and third. He has always served well and I accepted this type of challenge mentally. I played a lot yesterday and today, I will try to recover in view of tomorrow’s semi-final. In the second I was 0-40 and missed a forehand. You have to accept some mistakes and these situations, especially when you face tennis players who serve so well and moreover on grass,” he explained.
The numerous unexploited chances in the second and third sets did not undermine Sinner’s mental certainty, who handled the pressure with his usual coolness. Not even the negative statistics in the tie-breaks played this week affected him, because as he himself reiterated at the end of the match, he won the most important one.