Jannik Sinner serving in Montpellier
Winning debut for Jannik Sinner at the ATP 500 in Rotterdam, but his performance was much more fluctuating than the super level shown last week in Montpellier. The blue defeated the French Benjamin Bonzi in three sets, 6-2 3-6 6-1 the final score, which well describes the progress of the match: total domination by Jannik in the first set, much stronger in every sector of the game, then a bad empty pass for the blue in the second set, collapsed on serve (38% of first) and fouled with the forehand. In the third set, after a couple of hard-fought games, here is a new break from Sinner, who flies away with a double break and closes the match. Excellent moments of play for Sinner, with a deadly pace and forehand, alternating with more uncertain phases when the first serve didn’t support him and his forehand and drive also dropped. Tsitsipas is in the next round, the quality, intensity and depth of shots shown by Jannik in the first phase and in the third set will be needed.
updating
The record
The match begins with Bonzi at bat. He serves well, pushes from the center and takes it 40-0. Jannik gets on the bike, the forehand “hurts”, pushes and the field opens up, forces the game to the advantages. Few points, but the answer already seems fundamental: when the blue replies with depth, he takes possession of the rally and the Frenchman struggles to hold on. Thanks to an answer on the line, here is the break point for Sinner. Excellent first ball in the center, Bonzi saves himself. Benjamin annuls two more PBs, but capitulates on the fourth chance, when the blue finds a splendid long line that puts the opponent in crisis, up to his mistake. BREAK Sinner in a 20 (!) point game, can head ahead 1-0. The Italian’s first game was very different, the forehand runs, ready to take a step forward and push. Even an Ace to close the game, 2-0. Bonzi looks for a higher speed to put Jannik in trouble, but ends up out of revs, and the first one doesn’t help him. 0-30 and 15-40, after a long backhand. Two chances for the double break for Sinner. With an excellent volley Benjamin cancels the first, but nothing can on the attack with the forehand down the line at 30-40. DOUBLE BREAK Sinner, 3-0. 19 minutes of tennis, the difference in speed and thrust between the two seems, at the moment, very clear. With four shoulders Jannik flies 4-0, by now the set seems to have been acquired. Finally the Frenchman wins a game, still suffering. Sinner does not suffer at all: he plays loose, strong in his advantage, draws the field with his backhand and serves very well (10 first out of 13 on the field so far). Above all, he misses almost nothing and keeps pace too high for his rival. He misses the first real goal shot at 40-15, but with first on the goal line 5-1. He closes the blue 6-2, a totally dominated set, in which he lost only 4 points in his innings and served very well (75% first on the court with 87% of points won).
Second set, Bonzi to serve, but the music doesn’t change. Sinner is very aggressive in response, opens the corners and causes the transalpine to make mistakes. On 15-30 the alarm for Benjamin already goes off. The Frenchman throws himself ahead on 30 all, but Jannik finds a splendid balance in full reach and hits a fantastic passer along the line. Ball Break! This time Bonzi plays well, attacks and closes with a smash. Again a great long backhand for Sinner, reverses the inertia of the exchange and Bonzi misses looking for the attack. Second break point, this time Jannik does not sink despite commanding, and Benjamin saves himself. However, nothing is possible on the blue’s science fiction cross response, with the very fast ball dying inside the service rectangle. The break doesn’t even come at the third chance, Bonzi throws himself forward again with the serve and volley, he succeeds. With great effort (3 PB cancelled), Bonzi goes 1-0. The first Sinner ball does not enter in his first game of the second set, and the forehand is also less precise (two errors). For the first time to the benefits to the service. He makes up for it with an Ace but the forehand fails again, as many as six errors in the game, almost all due to excessive pushing and crosses, not due to forcing by his rival. Finally, after 12 points, he takes 1 all. In the fourth game Jannik is ahead 40-15, but the first ball leaves him. He suffers two attacks from Bonzi on second balls, and the Frenchman gets a break point, his first in the match, with a nice backhand down the line. Another second ball for Jannik, and with a perfect answer down the line, a sudden BREAK arrives for Bonzi. Four points in a row with the second, four points lost for the blue. 3-1 Bonzi. Empty pass for the blue with the service (and shy in the push from the bottom), paid dearly. He looks for a “Jan” reaction forcing in response, but Benjamin now gives nothing and flies 4-1. The set is sensationally turned after a start that seemed favorable to Sinner (three unused break points). Only 44% of firsts in the field so far in the partial, too much too little. Sinner finds consistency at the serve, remains in the wake 2-4 and but in response is less precise than in the first set. Despite some mistakes, he forces the game to the advantages. Less precise with the forehand Bonzi, gives something in thrust with the forehand. One costs him the ball of the counter break (fourth in the set). The first does not enter … but Sinner hits the backhand badly, the ball dies in the net. Wasted chance, and the score passes to 5-2 Bonzi. Uncertain Jannik also in the eighth game, he saves himself from 0-30, but struggles to find his best rhythm, the first serve doesn’t work. Benjamin serves at 5-3 to win the second set. He starts badly, mistake in exchange, but makes up for it with an Ace. Finally, Sinner’s forehand cross is lethal, good at snatching a winner after defending himself. 15-30, chance for the blue to reopen the set. Another Ace by Bonzi, very effective from the left. However, he misses the timing of the attack and suffers the blue passer-by. 30-40, break point! A deadly tape saves Bonzi, with Sinner also falling to the ground, but without consequences. The Frenchman closes the net, wins the second set 6-3. A well-deserved partial: he raised his serving level a lot, good at taking the first chance of the match in return, thanks to a bad empty pass from Jannik on serve: 38% of first balls on the pitch, terrible figure.
Third set, Jannik serves first (small advantage), but the forehand is still not very precise. So he chooses to pull it hard but less deep. He wins the first game, 1-0. Finally Sinner finds a big point, lightning acceleration. He accuses Bonzi of the blow, also because now Jannik’s pressing with the forehand seems to have returned to that of the first set, intense and deep. 15-30. He wastes a perfectly commanded exchange, but then takes advantage of a double tape (this time in favor of him) which earns him a break point. Benjamin’s first does not enter… Jannik responds very deep, grinds a good rhythm with his forehand and causes Bonzi to make a mistake. BREAK Sinner, ahead 2-0 and service. He can head the blue, back to push from the back row with higher speeds. He also finds the Ace, two in the game, and therefore a peremptory attack. He flies the blue 3-0, the mists in which he was lost in the second set seem to have disappeared. Bonzi moves the score in the set thanks to the serve, 1-3. Difficult the fifth game for the blue: Bonzi pushes, again there is no serve. Collapses 15-40, concedes two balls from the counter break. Sinner clings to his best pace, moves his rival and leads to a mistake, risking the depth of his drives, not very angled. The first ball again disappeared, but the forehand now supports it. 4-1 Sinners. With a deadly tear, the blue forcefully breaks another break, for the 5-1 and closes smoothly 6-1, dominating the final. Once again the service and confidence in pushing, everything was easy. However, it is necessary not to suffer such an evident drop as in the second set against a rival like Tsitsipas.
Benjamin Bonzi 
vs Jannik Sinner 
ATP Rotterdam
Benjamin Bonzi2
6
1
Jannik Sinner6
3
6
Winner: Sinner
| Bonzi |
Sinner |
|
|---|---|---|
| ACES | 8 | 7 |
| DOUBLE FAULTS | 3 | 0 |
| FIRST SERVE | 65/102 (64%) | 45/78 (58%) |
| 1ST SERVE POINTS WON | 37/65 (57%) | 35/45 (78%) |
| 2ND SERVE POINTS WON | 18/37 (49%) | 18/33 (55%) |
| BREAK POINTS SAVED | 9/13 (69%) | 2/3 (67%) |
| 1ST SERVE RETURN POINTS WON | 10/45 (22%) | 28/65 (43%) |
| 2ND SERVE RETURN POINTS WON | 15/33 (45%) | 19/37 (51%) |
| BREAK POINTS CONVERTED | 1/3 (33%) | 4/13 (31%) |
| NET POINTS WON | 4/11 (36%) | 5/6 (83%) |
| WINNERS | 21 | 41 |
| UNFORCED ERRORS | 16 | 15 |
| SERVICE POINTS WON | 55/102 (54%) | 53/78 (68%) |
| RETURN POINTS WON | 25/78 (32%) | 47/102 (46%) |
| TOTAL POINTS WON | 80/180 (44%) | 100/180 (56%) |
| MAX SPEED | 214 km/h | 207 km/h |
